Movies Releasing This Week: Dhanush's Tere Ishk Mein, Vijay Varma's Gustaakh Ishq or Bengali thriller Danab - Which one is your weekend pick?
The final week of November 2025 sets the stage for a massive theatrical clash. The box office is expected to be dominated by the explosive reunion of Dhanush and Aanand L. Rai in Tere Ishk Mein, a film that promises to reignite the obsessive passion of Raanjhanaa. However, the "Mass" entertainer faces an elegant challenger in Manish Malhotra"™s poetic production debut, which takes us back to the romance of the 90s. Beyond these Hindi giants, the lineup remains diverse with a festival-acclaimed murder mystery, a bold conversation starter on menopause, and a gritty Bengali psychological thriller for regional cinema lovers.
Gustaakh Ishq
Release Date: November 28, 2025
Director: Vibhu Puri
Production: Stage5 Productions (Manish Malhotra)
Cast: Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharib Hashmi
Marking the highly anticipated production debut of ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra under his banner Stage5 Productions, Gustaakh Ishq (previously titled Ul Jalool Ishq) promises a visual and auditory feast. Set in the charming, pre-mobile era of the 1990s in Old Delhi, the film is a poetic ode to old-school romance and Urdu literature. Director Vibhu Puri, known for his visual flair in Hawaizaada, teams up with the legendary musical duo of Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar, ensuring the soundtrack is as evocative as the setting. For actor Vijay Varma, known for his intense roles in streaming hits like Darlings, this film serves as a significant theatrical test as he steps into a soft, romantic solo lead role, supported by a powerhouse cast including Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sharib Hashmi, and the veteran Naseeruddin Shah.
Kaisi Ye Paheli
Release Date: November 28, 2025
Director: Ananyabrata Chakravorty (Debut)
Production: Take Pictures
Cast: Sukant Goel, Sadhana Singh, Rajit Kapur, Chittaranjan Giri.
A "sleeper hit" candidate. This dark comedy-murder mystery is set in a sleepy hill town in Northeast India. It explores the relationship between a lonely mother and her policeman son who are drawn into a puzzling homicide. The film has already garnered praise at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF).The film marks a rare and significant comeback for Sadhana Singh, the star of the 1982 blockbuster Nadiya Ke Paar. For audiences who grew up in the 80s, her return is a major hook. Rajit Kapur plays a character named 'Detective Bondo'. This is a meta-casting choice, as Kapur is immortalized in Indian pop culture as the original Byomkesh Bakshi (1993). Seeing him back in a sleuthing role is a treat for genre fans.The film is crowdfunded, meaning it relies entirely on content and word-of-mouth rather than marketing muscle.
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Me No Pause Me Play
Release Date: November 28, 2025
Director: Samar K. Mukherjee
Production: Mirrro Films
Cast: Kamya Punjabi, Deepshikha Nagpal, Sudha Chandran, Aman Verma.
Marketed as "India"™s first mainstream feature film on Menopause," this social drama is based on the book by Manoj Kumar Sharma. It aims to destigmatize the physical and emotional changes women face during this phase.The cast is a Who's Who of Indian Television. Kamya Punjabi and Sudha Chandran command massive loyalty from TV audiences. The film's success depends on whether this television fanbase translates to ticket sales for a social-cause film.
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Tere Ishk Mein
Release Date: November 28, 2025
Director: Aanand L. Rai
Production: Colour Yellow Productions & T-Series
Cast: Dhanush, Kriti Sanon, Prakash Raj
This is the heavyweight title of the week. Reteaming the dream trio of director Aanand L. Rai, actor Dhanush, and composer A.R. Rahman, this film carries massive expectations. The story is an intense, aggressive romance set against the backdrop of student politics and tragedy, much like their previous collaboration. The makers have officially called this a "spiritual sequel" to the 2013 blockbuster Raanjhanaa. While the story is different, it is set in the same "world" and carries the same DNA of obsessive love and rage. Dhanush's character is named 'Shankar', a nod to the lord of destruction, mirroring his character 'Kundan' from the first film.This marks Dhanush"™s return to Hindi theatrical screens after a decade (since Shamitabh in 2015; Atrangi Re was a direct-to-OTT release). Given the cult status of Raanjhanaa, the opening day figures are expected to be the highest of the week.With Irshad Kamil on lyrics and Rahman on music, the album is already a chartbuster, which is usually a strong indicator of a film's opening success in India.
Danab (Bengali)
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Director: Atiul Islam
Production: Mohona Films
Cast: Kharaj Mukherjee, Piyar Khan, Rupsha Mukhopadhyay, Laboni Sarkar
Danab (The Demon) is a psychological thriller with a grim premise. The story follows Shiba, a man working in a morgue, whose life turns upside down when the body of his loved one arrives for an autopsy, triggering a chain of dark revelations about rape and power.
One of the most versatile actors in Bengali cinema, Mukherjee transitions effortlessly between comedy and menacing villainy. His presence anchors the film's performance quality. Despite the dark theme, the film features music by high-profile singers like Javed Ali and rock icon Rupam Islam, ensuring the soundtrack has mass appeal even if the subject matter is niche.
The final week of November 2025 is shaping up to be a fascinating battle between "Mass Emotion" and "Class Aesthetics." While Tere Ishk Mein is undoubtedly the box-office juggernaut that will drive opening weekend footfalls with its high-octane passion and star power, Gustaakh Ishq offers a visually stunning alternative for those craving poetry and nostalgia.
However, do not overlook the hidden gems of the week. Films like the gritty Bengali thriller Danab and the festival-acclaimed Kaisi Ye Paheli offer the kind of gripping, content-driven storytelling that often leads to cult success. Whether you are in the mood for the aggressive romance of a blockbuster, the charm of the 90s, or a dark mystery, this week"™s theatrical slate has a ticket for everyone
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