Kriti Sanon and Dhanush’s romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, which premiered on Netflix on January 23, has been receiving mixed responses from viewers across age groups. While some audiences engaged with its emotional storyline, the film unexpectedly became the subject of ridicule among PhD students, who took to social media to mock what they called an unrealistic portrayal of academic research.

The Scene That Triggered the Backlash

The controversy centres around a scene in which Kriti Sanon’s character mentions submitting a 2,200-page PhD thesis. For many doctoral scholars, this single line overshadowed the film’s narrative and sparked disbelief. On X (formerly Twitter), PhD students began sharing memes, sarcastic reactions, and long posts calling out the filmmakers for stretching “cinematic liberty” too far.

Why PhD Scholars Were Upset

Doctoral students pointed out that writing a thesis is already an exhausting and demanding process, even when limited to a few hundred pages. Many scholars highlighted that most PhD dissertations range between 250 and 400 pages, making the idea of a 2,200-page thesis appear absurd. Several users joked that such a thesis would be rejected outright by supervisors long before reaching submission.

One scholar shared that despite loving their research topic, completing a 385-page thesis required writing daily for four years. Others echoed similar experiences, stating that the film trivialised the academic struggle by portraying an impossible standard.

Kriti Sanon’s Role in the Film

In Tere Ishk Mein, Kriti Sanon plays Mukti Beniwal, a psychology research scholar at Delhi University. She selects Dhanush’s character, Shankar Gurukkal, as her research subject due to his behavioural issues and anger problems. As the story progresses, Shankar develops feelings for Mukti, but she does not reciprocate, leading to a complex and emotionally charged relationship.

While the film aimed to explore human psychology and emotional trauma, critics argue that its depiction of academic research lacked authenticity.

Social Media Turns It Into a Meme Fest

The thesis scene quickly turned into a meme template, with PhD students leading the charge. Comments ranged from disbelief to outright mockery. Some questioned how such a thesis could pass through multiple approval stages, including guides and academic committees. Others joked that professors would ask the student to “make it shorter” rather than attempt to read thousands of pages.

The humour-driven backlash turned the film into a trending topic among academic circles online.

Box Office and Film Details

Directed by Aanand L Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav, Tere Ishk Mein was released in theatres on November 28 last year. Made on a reported budget of ₹85 crore, the film went on to earn ₹148.5 crore at the box office before its digital release.

Cinematic Liberty vs Reality

While filmmakers often rely on creative freedom, the reaction to Tere Ishk Mein highlights how unrealistic details can alienate informed audiences. For PhD scholars, the 2,200-page thesis became a symbol of how poorly academia is sometimes portrayed on screen.

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