Showing posts with label Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Show all posts
2026 January to June: Bollywood finds its mojo again
8:44 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; July 4, 2026)
Just six months ago, Bollywood was staring at another uncertain year. Today, the mood is noticeably brighter. Driven by the record-smashing success of Dhurandhar The Revenge, strong performances from the war action film Border 2, followed by the horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, and now the sleeper hit Main Vaapas Aaunga, the Hindi film industry finally has something it has lacked for years: momentum.
Yet beneath the celebrations lies a reality check. While a handful of films have soared, many others have struggled to survive, making 2026 a story so far, one of spectacular highs and equally visible lows. As trade analyst Taran Adarsh puts it, "It has been a case of kam khushi zyada gham. We've had successes, but very few that you can count on your fingertips."
'The biggest hit of 2026 is the word of mouth’
If the first half of 2026 proved anything, it is that Bollywood's audience has become more discerning than ever. Films that connected emotionally and generated strong word-of-mouth continued to grow beyond their opening weekend. Films that relied solely on star value found the road much tougher.
"The biggest trend in the first half of 2026 was the power of word-of-mouth," says trade analyst Ramesh Bala. "Films like Main Vaapas Aaunga, Border 2, Bhooth Bangla, and Dhurandhar The Revenge sustained because audiences connected with them."
Akkshay Rathie, Director - Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, adds, "To see Main Vaapas Aaunga open small but grow day by day purely on the merits of word-of-mouth is extremely encouraging.”
Novelty is winning. Formulas aren't
One of the clearest shifts this year has been the audience's appetite for fresh storytelling. "I don't think audiences are rewarding the repetition of a genre or style that has worked before. What people really appreciate is novelty and bravery from filmmakers. The repetition and herd mentality of trying to replicate success is something that we should put well behind us and we should have filmmakers staying true to their conviction to the stories that they really want to tell and to genres that come very naturally to them. And the more we see that happening, the more successful we'll be as an industry at the box office," says Rathi.
The Dhurandhar Effect
The biggest winner of the year was undoubtedly Dhurandhar The Revenge, which shattered box-office records and redefined the upper ceiling of Hindi cinema's theatrical potential.
Rathi shares, "One movie that really towers above every other movie in the last six months is of course Dhurandhar The Revenge. The box-office collections that we witnessed were truly historic. We realized that the glass ceiling we thought existed at the Rs. 500-600 crore benchmark has been shattered. The potential of the Hindi-speaking market is humongous."
He adds, "I hope more films attempt to build the intrinsic value that allows them to go closer to those numbers."
'Average films won't survive'
While the industry celebrates its winners, films like O'Romeo, which was highly anticipated due to the reunion of Kaminey duo Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj, and Chand Mera Dil starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya that looked promising didn’t quite shine at the box office.
While Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai may have recovered its budget, the film's poor reviews and underwhelming box office performance have left a lingering sense of disappointment. Do Deewane Seher Mein, won appreciation from critics and the audience, but the film couldn’t draw in the crowds. Ikkis, Ek Din and Pati Patni Aur Woh Do also failed to attract the kind of audience they were expected to.
"The gap between films that work and films that don't has become very evident," says Taran Adarsh. Ramesh Bala echoes the concern. "Audiences have become far more selective, making it difficult for average films to survive."
The second half could be even bigger
The industry now turns its attention to a packed second-half slate. From King and Toxic, Dhamaal 4 and Ramayana, the coming months are loaded with franchise titles, star vehicles and large-scale spectacles.
"With the kind of movies lined up in the second half, 2026 is well on its way to being an iconic year," says Rathi.
Bala adds, "If these films live up to expectations, the second half could be even stronger than the first."
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 2, 2026)
The first half of 2026 has delivered a much-needed boost to the film industry, with audiences backing films across genres, languages and budgets. Strong theatrical footfalls, breakout regional successes and the return of comedy have helped restore confidence in the business after a volatile few years.
“For the industry, admissions are up by at least 10%, and the box office, our estimate is, would be up by at least 16-17%, if not more,” says Kamal Gianchandani, president of the Multiplex Association of India.
What worked
From patriotic dramas and comedies to regional cinema, the year’s biggest successes came from varied genres. Sunny Deol’s Border 2 emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year, while Dhurandhar The Revenge became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2026 so far.
Comedy also found favour with audiences. Akshay Kumar’s reunion with Priyadarshan in Bhooth Bangla paid off at the box office, while his latest release, Welcome To The Jungle, has continued the momentum, netting over Rs. 80 crore within five days of its release.
For Devang Sampat, managing director, Cinepolis India, the biggest takeaway has been the diversity of successful films: “Dhurandhar The Revenge, Border 2, Bhooth Bangla all did well, but for me the real takeaway is how broad the success has been. The business has come from all kinds of films, across languages and across budgets, not just the big titles.”
One of the biggest surprises of the year has been Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga. Despite a modest opening, strong word of mouth helped the film steadily gain momentum and move towards hit status.
Reflecting on the film’s journey, Imtiaz had earlier told us, “It’s the audience who has embraced the film. Somewhere, the industry had started saying ki ‘Arre kuchh bhi halka phulka de do audience ko, chal jaayega, emotional mat do’. But the people proved this wrong.”
What didn’t
Yet, not every well-reviewed film translated into ticket sales. Vishal Bhardwaj’s O'Romeo, Ananya Panday and Lakshya’s Chand Mera Dil, Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar and Kangana Ranaut’s Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata failed to generate the expected box-office momentum despite positive reviews and strong subjects.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan believes financial discipline is becoming just as important as content in determining a film’s fate. “The first half has been so far, so good. Like Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh, actors need to shoulder the responsibility of a film, and not burden it with their high fees,” he says.
The message from the first half of 2026 is clear: audiences are showing up for good stories, regardless of genre or budget. But they are also more selective than ever, making strong content and positive word-of-mouth Bollywood’s safest bets.
Dhurandhar and then what? Bollywood's box office blues return after one big hit
10:38 AM
Outdated story formulas, fading star power bring string of failures soon after the success of Dhurandhar 2
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; June 18, 2026)
Mumbai: After the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar The Revenge, Hindi cinema has slipped back into a slump, with at least seven consecutive box-office failures following the moderate performance of Bhooth Bangla, trade data showed.
Films such as Chand Mera Dil, Ek Din, Daadi Ki Shaadi, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and Bandar, despite featuring well-known casts and filmmakers, have failed to draw audiences.
Industry experts told ET that Bollywood's continued dependence on outdated storytelling formulas, fading star power, inability to adapt to evolving audience preferences, weak marketing campaigns and the failure to turn films into social media-driven cultural events have all contributed to the poor performance.
Producers and exhibitors said the industry has struggled to organically build audiences around films before their releases, a strategy increasingly crucial for box-office success.
Also, increasingly, makers in the Hindi film industry have a huge disconnect with audiences' tastes, said exhibitors.
"These films are rejected. Audiences want to come to theatres. The successes of Tamil film Karuppu or even the small-budget experimental horror film Obsession prove it. One needs to bring the right product at the right time. This is how the business works. Smart producers adjust to genres and not make what they think audiences will like," explained Vishek Chauhan, CEO of Roopbani Cinema, a single-screen theatre in Bihar.
"Earlier, big directors would constantly communicate with well-penetrated distributors to understand audiences' preferences and tastes. This is how they made films. This is not the case today," he added.
Apart from animation, horror genre has emerged as a favourite among audiences in India and abroad. Recently, a small-budget franchise Hindi film Haunted – Echoes Of The Past, which was released without marketing, collected Rs. 13.5 crore in the first six days of its release.
Another reason may have been dated stories and style. "These recent films are made in the old mould. You cannot make a Hindi film with the 1990s story and expect it to click with audiences. Today, audiences reward 'unique' writing. It is not about stars or a film's budget. Given the high costs that are involved in a theatre visit, these films made in the old mould do not provide a strong reason for audiences to come to theatres," said producer Rajesh R Nair.
"It is about intent. After the pandemic, I have not seen a major film launched which has matched up to the evolved taste of audiences. The intent is totally missing. If one starts a film then one must sense the audience's tastes 18 months in advance to be relevant," explained Girish Johar, producer and film business expert.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 938
10:57 AM
WILL THE FOUR RELEASES FIND AUDIENCE THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH?
Last week’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has underperformed, but the weekday trend is decent. The film has collected Rs. 31.95 crores in 5 days and if it can hit the Rs. 50 crore mark in its lifetime, it’ll be a fair result. However, it’ll be a challenge to do so due to several releases this Friday.
The biggest release of the week is Main Vaapas Aaunga, directed by Imtiaz Ali. It stars Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah and tells the story of a man who had to migrate due to Partition. Imtiaz is known for having two tracks running parallel. Main Vaapas Aaunga uses that template, yet it differs from the Love Aaj Kal movies.
However, since it looks like a niche film, the excitement is limited among a section of the audience. The music sadly hasn’t worked as intended. As a result, the opening will be low, around Rs. 2-3 crores. But the film has the potential to grow dramatically from Saturday, if reports are positive.
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata has Kangana Ranaut playing the role of a nurse in the 26/11 terror attacks. The trailer is quite nail-biting, but since hype is limited, an opening of Rs. 1 crore is expected.
The same goes for Governor, starring Manoj Bajpayee. Though it tells a fascinating story from the pages of history, the material is such that it won’t immediately excite the audience. Both films will need good word-of-mouth to make an impact.
Finally, Haunted – Echoes Of The Past is the second part of the Haunted series. Like the first part, it stars Mimoh Chakraborty, is directed by Vikram Bhatt and will release in 3D. A film like this appeals to the masses. However, the trailer seems to have many AI visuals, which have been criticized. Shockingly, the promotion is very low-key.
Yet, it might surprise and open better than Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata and Governor. Vikram’s last horror film, 1920: Horrors Of The Heart (2023), opened at Rs. 1.40 crore and that should be the aim of Haunted – Echoes Of The Past as well.
What is No. 1? There’s always going to be someone better than you-Varun Dhawan
8:57 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 6, 2026)
Charming and full of energy, Varun Dhawan brings his infectious sense of humour to the latest episode of the Bombay Times Lounge driven by Jeep. But beyond the laughs, the actor — whose latest release, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan, hit theatres on Friday — reveals a more reflective side as he opens up about the dangers of chasing perceptions, the pressures of fame, and why staying true to yourself matters more than ever. A conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and insightful — much like Varun himself. Watch the full episode on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.
Your father, David Dhawan, created a certain grammar of mainstream Hindi entertainment in the 90s. But today’s audiences consume content, including comedy differently. When you are making a comedy like Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, how do you stay true to the heart and soul of those classic entertainers?
My dad always told us, ‘I never went in to make comedy films. Main entertainer bana raha tha. Main logon ko entertain karna chahta tha. Usme romance tha, emotion tha, drama bhi tha, thoda sa action bhi tha. Aur uss mein logon ko hasaa bhi raha tha. But unn emotions ke bagair, those films would not be what they were. People and maybe critics back then, labelled them as comedy, but actually they were wholesome entertainers’.
Recently, at the David Dhawan Film Festival, where they showcased Aankhen, so many of us sat together and watched the film on the big screen — it was still so entertaining and magical. The comedy is not forced, it’s not gaggy... ki yaar, yeh trend mein hai, bolenge toh yeh chalega. It’s very close to real things that happen around us. I believe comedy is basically about capturing the nuances of real life and maybe magnifying them a little bit.
You did Main Tera Hero (2014) after your debut Student Of The Year (2012). I believe during the initial years of your career, you were advised not to do a comedy & even told that it was a wrong choice.
Yes, I was told by a very popular director back then that, ‘I wanted to cast you in a film, but I feel the kind of cinema you’re doing, you can only do that. But you should not do such cinema.’
And here we are…
Yes!
Your father recently said that Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai could be his last film as a director. Knowing that, did the journey feel more emotional for you — not just as an actor, but as a son who has grown up watching him live and breathe cinema?
At one point, we thought that he wouldn’t direct a film again because his health was down. So, Rohit (brother), my mom and I, felt he should not direct a film. He was going through a very low phase, and I remember Anil Kapoor, telling me, ‘You have to let your father get back on the sets. He has spent more time on the set than he has spent at home. His home is the set and behind the camera. We are built differently, Varun. Humne bahut kaam kiya hai, so unko khushi agar usme mil rahi hai, let him do it and as a son support him.’ Anil uncle has a similar work ethic, so I understood what he said and that made me think about it a lot. Rohit was a little bit more hesitant to let him direct again, but we knew we had to support him.
Some actors come into the industry and then along the way they figure out the dynamics of this place. You’re someone who’s grown up within this machinery. Do you think you were far more prepared to embrace fame, success and failure because you’ve seen it from close quarters?
I think no one comes prepared to deal with the ups and downs in their life. I’ve had my share of ups and downs and my moments of weakness. But what I have learnt is — you have to move on and take the next step. You can dwell over it and feel bad for yourself. You can play victim, but how long will you play victim? This is something that my dad always tells me — move on, take the next step, you have to take the next step. There’s no point sitting and blaming people for your sorrows and think…ki I’m here because usne mere saath yeh kiya, ya yeh hua mere saath. Arre bhai, tumhari bhi thodi galti toh hogi na? So, introspect, take the learnings and move on. Blaming anyone is not going to get you anywhere.
In an earlier conversation with us, you had spoken about how much of our life is spent chasing perceptions — of success, relevance, being number one. But there comes a point when that chase can feel exhausting. Have you reached a stage where you’re more at peace with yourself than with how you’re perceived?
What is number one? It means you’re better than someone. There’s always going to be someone better than you. Someone will come along and something will change. My idea is to just do my work in the best way possible and enjoy the journey. There was a time when we were all being brought up in that very individualistic mindset. I myself have moved away from it a little bit. I was running too fast and sometimes when you do that, you forget which direction you are running in.
What do you think is the most dangerous thing about fame?
It’s addictive.
There’s a pressure that comes with being an actor and a star that people often overlook. What’s the part of stardom that the audience doesn’t see?
The lonely moments that you spend with yourself. When you’re all alone in your van, when you’re all alone in your house — those are the lonely moments. Actors’ lives are very lonely, and this is something which I always discuss. I would say most actors are lonely.
That’s interesting because from the outside, an actor’s life seems anything but lonely. You’re constantly surrounded by people. Is there a danger of losing yourself in the image that others have of you?
Luckily, from the beginning, I kind of dropped the façade. I am what you see. I can’t keep pretending, because I feel my mental health will go for a toss and I will burst somewhere. I mean, if you see my earlier interviews, I was even more moohfat. Abhi thoda sa conscious ho rahe hain log because of social media and all that. But kya hi hone wala hai? Kya hi kar denge? Cancel kar denge? After a point, you’ve just got to be yourself, whether it’s good or bad — at least you’re yourself. Otherwise after some time, you won’t even know who you are.
As someone who understands the economics of cinema as much as the craft, in today’s landscape, what do you think is tougher — making a film or bringing people to buy a ticket and come to the theatre?
I feel that bringing people to come and buy the ticket is tough today. You can make a good film, and many good films are being made, but not all of them make money. It’s not like we are not making good films. I saw Superboys Of Malegaon aur mujhe bahut acchi lagi. I loved Laapataa Ladies and 12th Fail; the movie was also a hit, but it could have made even more money given that it was such a good film. Then there is a film like Dhurandhar, which is an entertaining film, it has stars and everything comes together and it does well. So, it’s possible, but not easy. It was never easy.
Driven by: Jeep
Location courtesy: Luuma House
Salman Khan has given his blessing to Chunnari Chunnari-I P Singh
11:00 PM
After Abhijeet Bhattacharya slams ‘Chunnari Chunnari’ remix, composers I P Singh and Akshay Raheja say they respect his opinion; reveal that Salman Khan has backed their work
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 3, 2026)
Remixes are often followed by a clash of opinions. Last week, singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who voiced the original Chunnari Chunnari from Biwi No 1 (1999), criticised the recreated version in Varun Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. When mid-day contacted Akshay Raheja and I P Singh, who composed the remix, they viewed the singer’s reaction as part of the territory that comes with revisiting a popular number.
Singh said, “These are senior people. Their comments are coming from their personal experience and we respect that. Anu Malik sir [who scored the original] loved it. If Abhijeet sir didn’t like it, what can we do? We can only ask for their aashirwaad. Hum bachche hain; we’ve come here to give our fresh perspective on the track.”
In sharp contrast to Bhattacharya’s opinion, the duo claimed that Biwi No 1’s leading man Salman Khan has endorsed their reinterpretation. While they haven’t spoken directly to the superstar, Singh revealed, “From what I know, Salman sir has given his blessing to the song. That means a lot to us.”
The duo’s brief was to introduce Chunnari Chunnari to the young audience while preserving the original’s soul. Raheja explained, “When we are reimagining songs, the idea is to honour the original composition. We need to keep its integrity alive.”
Singh added, “In the 1990s, there was a wave of reimagining songs from the 1970s and 1980s. I discovered so many tracks through those versions. Now if we can take [the 1990s] songs to Gen Z listeners and evoke in them the feeling we experienced when we first heard them, that’s wonderful.”
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Music duo Akshay Raheja and I P Singh say that while they respect the veteran singer’s opinion, they stand by their creation
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 4, 2026)
The recreated version of Chunnari Chunnari from Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, has sparked mixed reactions online, including criticism from singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who crooned the original song. He recently said the remake sounded more like a “bhajan” than the upbeat 1999 track from Biwi No.1.
Reacting to the criticism, music duo Akshay Raheja and I P Singh, who have composed the new song, say they respect all opinions while standing by their work. “Art is subjective. Some people will like it, some people won’t. We tried to honour the essence of the song, and its nostalgia,” says IP, adding that the duo views the track as a “reimagination and not a remix”.
Akshay adds, “When we work with so many senior artistes like David (Dhawan, director) ji, Kumar (Taurani) ji, Ramesh (Taurani, producer) ji, there has to be some merit that it is a good song, that’s why it got selected and released.”
On Abhijeet’s remarks, I P says, “He’s a veteran, and there’s only respect for him from our end. For us, he is a legend... We just hope that sooner or later, he also gives us his blessings.”
Akshay adds, “He must be coming from a place, because he originally recorded this song. Now, obviously, the style of music has changed and evolved. So, it’s completely fine for him to have this view.”
Puja Entertainment denied relief by Bombay High Court over movie songs
10:45 PM
Puja Entertainment had approached the court seeking orders against the release of the film and the use of two songs featured in it
Anamika Gharat (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 5, 2026)
The Bombay High Court has declined to grant urgent interim relief sought by Puja Films, now known as Puja Entertainment (India) Ltd, which had approached the court seeking orders against the release of the film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and the use of two songs featured in it.
The matter came up before Vacation Court Judge Farhan P Dubash on June 3. Puja Entertainment had filed an interim application seeking various urgent directions concerning the film, which is scheduled for theatrical release on June 5. The dispute specifically relates to two songs, Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai, which form part of the film’s soundtrack.
During the hearing, the court was informed that the plaintiff had already initiated legal proceedings in Bihar. Puja Entertainment had filed Title Suit No 137 of 2026 before the Civil Judge Senior Division at Katihar on April 27, seeking substantially similar reliefs concerning the same film and songs. In those proceedings, the trial court had granted an ex-parte ad-interim order on May 6 directing parties to maintain status quo.
The order triggered further litigation, with the defendants approaching the Patna High Court by filing a civil miscellaneous petition. The dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court. On May 22, the apex court stayed the Katihar court’s ex-parte order while directing that the pending proceedings before the Patna High Court be decided on their own merits.
Justice Dubash noted that the pleadings before the Bombay High Court did not disclose what transpired thereafter before the Patna High Court. Instead, the plaintiff stated that it had applied before the Bihar trial court seeking permission to withdraw the suit with liberty to initiate proceedings before the Bombay High Court. However, despite filing such an application more than a week earlier, no order permitting withdrawal had been obtained.
Appearing for defendants 1 to 6, senior advocate Ravi Kadam strongly opposed the plea. He submitted that the plaintiff had been aware of the film and its impending release since at least November 2025 but chose to approach the court at the eleventh hour. Kadam argued that the plaintiff was guilty of forum shopping and had failed to explain the delay in seeking relief.
The defendants further highlighted the massive scale of the film’s release. According to submissions recorded by the court, nearly 1,900 cinemas and about 3,000 screens across India had already been booked for the film. Additionally, approximately 725 cinemas and 1,100 screens in over 70 countries had been reserved for overseas screenings.
Senior advocate Ashish Kamat, appearing for another defendant, supported the objections and sought time to place the defendants’ response on record. Taking into account the pendency of the Bihar proceedings, the absence of any order permitting withdrawal of the earlier suit, the delay in approaching the Bombay High Court and the imminent worldwide release of the film, Justice Dubash held that the court was not inclined to entertain the urgent application. The court therefore declined to grant any immediate relief that could affect the release of the film or the two songs and directed that the matter be placed before the regular bench on June 8, 2026, with liberty to the defendants to file their replies before the next hearing.
(Crisp) Movie Review: HAI JAWANI TOH ISHQ HONA HAI by FENIL SETA
3:16 PM
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a typical David Dhawan film. Hence, the idea is that viewers should have a gala time, logic be damned. The plot and the madcap characters keep the interest going. 'Chunari Chunari' is well picturized and peppy (though nothing beats the original). On the flipside, the first half barely has any laughs, and it gets quite awkward, especially when supposed funny scenes are unfolding on screen. But it doesn't raise any chuckles in the theatre. The climax is convenient and quick, though there was a lot of scope for madness. The goings-on give a déjà vu of Garam Masala, Saajan Chale Sasural and many other films in this genre. Thankfully, the second half saves the film to some extent and has some funny moments. Varun Dhawan goes over the top and moreover, he doesn't get to mouth funny lines, further impacting his performance. Yet, there's some likeable quality about him and he pulls off the act. Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde are presented beautifully and, performance-wise, are decent. Maniesh Paul is fine, though he has done far funnier roles in the past. Jimmy Shergill (Jogi Randhawa), Rajesh Kumar (Ghuggi), Rakesh Bedi (Selfie Kumar) and Chunky Panday (Dr Gulati) have limited screen time and are quite entertaining. Mouni Roy (Rasamalai) is the surprise of the film. All in all, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is strictly an average fare.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 937
3:58 PM
WILL HAI JAWANI TOH ISHQ HONA HAI WORK AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The dry month of May is over and now, all eyes are on Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, the first major release of the season. It is said to be the last directorial venture of David Dhawan and that has added to the hype.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde and just like most films of David Dhawan, it’s a comic caper. The songs have caught attention, especially ‘Chunari Chunari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’. The teaser of the film got thumbs down due to the use of AI-generated twin babies. However, the trailer had a better reception.
The advance sales of the film are fine but not great. Most viewers have opted for a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, they’ll wait for the reviews before deciding whether or not to buy tickets. As of now, the opening seems to be around Rs. 6-7 crores. A huge jump can be expected on Saturday if the reports are positive.
The dry month of May is over and now, all eyes are on Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, the first major release of the season. It is said to be the last directorial venture of David Dhawan and that has added to the hype.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde and just like most films of David Dhawan, it’s a comic caper. The songs have caught attention, especially ‘Chunari Chunari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’. The teaser of the film got thumbs down due to the use of AI-generated twin babies. However, the trailer had a better reception.
The advance sales of the film are fine but not great. Most viewers have opted for a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, they’ll wait for the reviews before deciding whether or not to buy tickets. As of now, the opening seems to be around Rs. 6-7 crores. A huge jump can be expected on Saturday if the reports are positive.
The other release is Bandar, starring Bobby Deol. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, it tells the story of a man wrongly accused in a rape case. The song ‘Come On Baby’ is catchy and has been loved. But the film looks dark and hence, will appeal to a select audience only. The film should open around Rs. 1 crore.
Lastly, Peddi was released today in the original Telugu and Hindi versions. It stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor and has taken a flying start in Telugu. In Hindi, however, it’ll open at around Rs. 1-2 crore at best and can go higher if the evening footfalls are better than expected.
Yash had told Varun Dhawan that if there’s any further change, he will let him know-Ramesh Taurani
10:50 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2026)
On Wednesday, Yash announced that his film Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups , which was slated for a June 4 release, has been further delayed. Some weeks ago, to avoid a clash with Toxic, David Dhawan’s next, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, was pushed to June 12.
In an online post, Yash, without revealing his new release date for Toxic , said, “We will release the film at a later, globally aligned date.” With this new turn of events, David Dhawan’s film is back to its original release date, June 5.
Talking about this, Ramesh Taurani, producer of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai , told us, “Yash and Varun are good friends. They got closer when Yash first announced that they have delayed their release to June 4. Their original release date was clashing with Dhurandhar The Revenge. Toxic ’s revised release date was slated a day before our film, so at that point we decided to release our film on June 12.”
Taurani further added, “Yash had told Varun that if there’s any further change, he will let him know. As soon as they decided to push it further, he informed Varun, and we decided to go back to our original release date, June 5. We had chosen this date eight months ago, so we are glad we got it back.”
After Bhediya, Kriti Sanon-Varun Dhawan reunite for a dance number in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai
10:10 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 18, 2026)
Three’s already a crowd with Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde featuring in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. What if we told you that another stunner has joined the mix? mid-day has exclusively learnt that Dhawan’s Bhediya (2022) co-star Kriti Sanon has a cameo in the upcoming comedy, featuring in a post-credit song. Apparently, the duo filmed the high-energy number — being described as the film’s “big celebratory finale” by insiders — at the Santacruz restaurant, Eve, on April 16.
According to a source close to the production, the team had been planning a glamorous end-credit track, but Sanon’s involvement was a late addition.
“It was meant to be a fun, youthful track that captures the film’s spirit. Getting Kriti on board was an inspired choice, given her crackling chemistry with Varun in Dilwale [2015] and Bhediya [2022],” said a source.
The song is your classic party number with a packed dance floor, neon-lit visuals, and fast beats. The source added, “Director David Dhawan wanted it to feel like a celebration, not just for the characters, but also for the audience walking out of the theatre.”
Varun Dhawan to wrap up Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai with a high energy dance number
10:15 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 20, 2025)
A carnival-style dance number is almost a fitting way to end the shoot of director David Dhawan’s entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Following weeks of shooting across different locations in Mumbai, leading man Varun Dhawan will face the camera next week for an extravagant dance number that will serve as the end-credit song. mid-day has learnt that the production team has erected a sprawling set at Mehboob Studios in Bandra for the eight-day shoot.
Before stepping on the dance floor, Varun is apparently prepping hard for the track that will be choreographed by Vijay Ganguly.
A source says, “Vijay has mapped out long takes with rapid transitions. In the song, Varun will be moving across different zones — a bridge, a rotating platform, and more — in the multi-level set-up. In one portion, he will also perform a comedic bit that is a hat-tip to Govinda’s dance moves. Varun has been rehearsing at Mehboob Studios, particularly for a demanding sequence that sees him match steps with 60 background dancers.”
After the shoot next week, it will be a wrap on the comedy, which marks the fourth collaboration between Varun and his father David. It also stars Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur.
I was the worst student in class while Varun Dhawan was the most hardworking student-Kubbra Sait
8:46 AM
Kubbra Sait on working with her acting school alumni Varun Dhawan in David Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 27, 2025)
Even as Kubbra Sait awaits the release of Son of Sardaar 2, she is thrilled to have already completed her second comedy feature, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Unlike the Ajay Devgn-led film, the David Dhawan directorial features her in a small part. “In all honesty, that was a one-day shoot,” she reveals.
But that didn’t matter, as the opportunity to be part of a film directed by the veteran filmmaker was quite special for the actor. “For me, it’s a legacy project, because I’m working with ‘the’ David Dhawan,” she says, before mentioning that the film "was also giving me a chance to work with Mrunal Thakur, whom I last worked with in Son Of Sardaar 2. So, it would have been an extension of our earlier collaboration. Varun Dhawan has been my classmate in my acting class! Lastly, Maniesh Paul is someone I have shared the stage with for so many years. So, that for me was a project I would never say no to, even if it was an hour’s job,” she shares.
Sait tells us that Varun and she attended Barry John’s acting school before making their screen debuts. “We were in the same batch. I would [often] run away to do my events and other stuff; I think I was the worst student in the class. Varun, on the other hand, was the most hardworking student,” she smiles
Tuchchi cheez mein main padta hi nahin, says Abhijeet Bhattacharya on Chunnari Chunnari remake
9:55 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 27,2025)
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s hit track Chunnari Chunnari from the film Biwi No.1 (1999) is a fan favourite even after more than two decades.
A recent decision to remake the song for the upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai — starring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur — however, has not gone down well with fans of the original. Videos of the trio shooting the revamped version in London have gone viral, leading to criticism and trolling.
Ask Abhijeet, the original voice behind the song, for his reaction, and he tells us, “Mujhe music composer, film ke director, kisi ne nahin bataya ki iss song ko remake kiya ja raha hai. Himmat bhi nahin kar sakte batane ki.”
Surprisingly, though, he admits that the track was never one of his favourites. “For me personally, Chunnari Chunnari was one of those ‘Jaldi gaao aur bhaago studio se’ songs. This was one of those where the makers wanted the lyrics to become a hit anyhow.”
He adds, “For the past 25 years I have heard it being played at functions and thought, ‘What is it about the song?’ But I do realize it has become iconic for fans.”
Having said that, does he mind that the song has been reimagined? “Mujhe farak nahin padta itni chhoti cheez se,” the 66-year-old says. He explains, “I don’t get involved much. In the market, more copies are sold than the original. Only great people know the value of the original. Tuchchi cheez mein main padta hi nahin hoon.”
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