The much-anticipated teaser for Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela’s upcoming film has dropped, but instead of excitement, it has sparked disappointment among fans. Initially rumoured to be Aashiqui 3, the film’s teaser left many underwhelmed, especially those who hold the beloved Aashiqui franchise close to their hearts. While it promises a fresh romantic drama under Anurag Basu’s direction, the absence of key franchise elements has led to mixed reactions.
Kartik Aaryan takes the stage in the teaser, strumming his guitar at a jam-packed concert. His rugged look—long hair, a thick beard, and an intense presence-suggests a departure from his usual boy-next-door charm. Sreeleela, making her Bollywood debut, is introduced as his love interest, but their on-screen chemistry has failed to strike a chord with some fans. The comparisons to Aashiqui 2 were inevitable, and for many, Kartik’s portrayal simply doesn’t measure up to Aditya Roy Kapur’s unforgettable performance.
Social media has been buzzing with reactions, many lamenting the absence of Aditya and Shraddha Kapoor, whose chemistry in Aashiqui 2 left an indelible mark. One fan posted, “You are telling me Kartik Aaryan is going to reprise this role in Aashiqui 3? Bugger off, man, you can’t match the chemistry of ARK & Shraddha.”
Another highlighted the raw emotion Aditya brought to the role, writing, “Do y’all see Aditya’s neck veins popping up while he’s singing? And they think they can recreate this. Lol. Not even talking about the album now.”
However, the biggest let down for many wasn’t just the cast—it was the uncertainty surrounding the film’s identity. The teaser omitted the Aashiqui branding entirely, leaving fans questioning whether this was truly part of the franchise or a standalone love story. Legal complications reportedly forced the makers to drop the Aashiqui 3 title, briefly renaming the film Tu Aashiqui Hai, though recent reports suggest the dispute has been settled. Yet, the confusion remains.
For die-hard Aashiqui fans, there’s still one last glimmer of hope-the music. With Pritam composing the soundtrack, many are optimistic that the film’s songs might at least live up to the franchise’s legacy.
But there is still scepticism surrounding it, as one user put it, “Everybody talking about the actors but I’m just sad because we are not going to get a soundtrack even close to Aashiqui 2 in today’s Bollywood, which goes to show how bad the industry fell off.”
With its Diwali 2025 release on the horizon, the film has a lot to prove. Whether it can step out of Aashiqui 2’s shadow and carve its own identity—or win over the sceptics with its music-remains to be seen.
