google.com, pub-7978201358560288, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Tere Ishk Mein Cast Fees Revealed: Dhanush vs. Kriti Sanon Pay Gap is Giving Major 'Side Eye'
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Tere Ishk Mein Cast Fees Revealed: Dhanush vs. Kriti Sanon Pay Gap is Giving Major 'Side Eye'

Okay, stop everything you are doing right now. Group chat assemble! We need to talk about Tere Ishk Mein. Yes, the movie released on Nov 28, and while we are absolutely living for the Raanjhanaa 2.0 vibes, the internet is currently screaming about something else entirely. The box office numbers are giving "Blockbuster," but the pay disparity between our faves Dhanush and Kriti Sanon? Bestie, the math is not mathing. We all know Bollywood loves a good controversy, but this 10-crore gap has us pausing our Spotify streams of A.R. Rahman’s bangers to ask: Is this for real? Let's spill the tea.

The Breakdown: Who Secured the Bag?

The "Dhanush" Effect vs. The "Kriti" Reality

Dhanush in tere ishq mein

First off, let's talk about the Main Character Energy. Dhanush is back with Aanand L. Rai after 12 years (we missed you, Kundan!), and naturally, his paycheck reflects that massive hype. The South Indian superstar reportedly charged a cool ₹15 Crore for his role as Shankar. And honestly? We get it. The man acts with his eyes, and his cross-industry appeal is legendary.

But here is where the record scratch happens. Kriti Sanon who literally carried Crew to a ₹150cr+ global box office just last year took home ₹5 Crore.


Kriti Sanon in tere ishk mein

Let that sink in. That is literally 3x less than her male co-star.

Kriti has been shouting from the rooftops about equal pay (remember her mic-drop moments at the roundtable?), and yet here we are. Twitter (X) is already calling this out as a classic case of the industry undervaluing its queens. Kriti is playing Mukti, a role just as emotionally heavy as Shankar, so why is her paycheck looking like it was decided in 2015?


The Crew Getting Paid (Big Time)

It’s not just the on-screen talent making bank. The real heavy lifters behind the camera are charging premium rates too:

  • Aanand L. Rai: The captain of the ship is taking home between ₹8-15 Crore. When you deliver emotional damage like Raanjhanaa, you get to name your price.

    Director of tere ishk mein

  • A.R. Rahman: The GOAT himself. 🐐 Rahman Sir charged ₹8-10 Crore for the music. And let's be real, his BGM is living rent-free in our heads right now, so he deserves every paisa.

The Box Office Verdict: Hit or Miss?

The budget for this emotional rollercoaster was approx ₹85 Crore (pretty standard for a tentpole drama).

The opening day? ₹16.5 Crore! 

We were nervous because reviews were mixed (critics were crying, but also complaining), but the audience showed up. With a ₹51.75 Crore opening weekend, the film is officially in the "Safe Zone." Unless it crashes harder than my motivation on a Monday, this is looking like a solid Hit.

Quick Look (TL;DR)

  • Movie: Tere Ishk Mein

  • Release Date: November 28, 2025

  • Director: Aanand L. Rai

  • Budget: ₹85 Crore (Approx)

  • Day 1 Collection: ₹16.5 Crore (India Net)

  • Dhanush Fee: ₹15 Crore

  • Kriti Sanon Fee: ₹5 Crore

  • Music: A.R. Rahman (Fee: ₹8-10 Crore)

Fans Also Asked

What is Dhanush's fee for Tere Ishk Mein movie?

Dhanush charged a massive ₹15 Crore for the film. This makes him the highest-paid actor in the cast, reflecting his pan-India stardom and the massive nostalgia factor of reuniting with director Aanand L. Rai.

Why is there a pay gap controversy in Tere Ishk Mein?

The controversy started because Kriti Sanon was paid ₹5 Crore, which is exactly three times less than Dhanush. Fans are upset because Kriti is a proven box-office draw (hello, Crew and Mimi), and the gap highlights Bollywood's ongoing issue with paying actresses fairly.

Is Tere Ishk Mein a hit or flop at the box office 2025?

It's leaning towards a Hit. The movie opened with ₹16.5 Crore and crossed ₹50 Crore in its first weekend. It needs to cross ₹90 Crore to be "Average" and ₹115 Crore to be a certified "Hit," and it's currently on track to smash those numbers.

What is the total budget of Tere Ishk Mein including marketing?

The total production budget is approximately ₹85 Crore. This includes the costs for the massive shooting schedules in Varanasi and Delhi, plus the high fees of the star cast and A.R. Rahman.

Is Tere Ishk Mein a sequel to Raanjhanaa?

Kind of! It's not a direct sequel (Shankar is not Kundan), but the makers call it a "spiritual sequel." It’s set in the same universe of intense, slightly toxic, do-or-die romance that Aanand L. Rai is famous for.

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