The entertainment industry has been closely monitoring the various box office competitions emerging in 2025. In the initial two months alone, the year has already proven to be a vibrant arena for box office rivalries, which bodes well for the sector. As we look forward to the film releases scheduled for the first half of the year, a significant high-budget confrontation has been announced for the latter half of 2025. This involves a film led by Ayushmann Khurrana going head-to-head with a project featuring Kartik Aaryan. Indeed, this is accurate! The film titled Thama is poised to compete against the Kartik Aaryan-Sreeleela collaboration, which was previously speculated to be named Aashiqui 3, although that is no longer the case. Continue reading for further insights.

Thama vs. Kartik Aaryan-Sreeleela Starrer

For those who may not be aware, on February 15, T-Series revealed the release date for the Kartik Aaryan film while also announcing Sreeleela's involvement following Triptii Dimri’s departure from the project. The teaser, which disclosed the film’s Diwali 2025 release date, depicted Kartik as a heartbroken musician, interspersed with scenes of his romantic interactions with Sreeleela, who portrays his love interest. This teaser has certainly generated excitement but has also confirmed the impending box office rivalry with Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thama.

The untitled film featuring Kartik Aaryan is both written and directed by Anurag Basu, with music composed by Pritam. In contrast, Thama has been slated for a Diwali 2025 release for an extended period, and the team behind Basu’s project has now secured the same date, establishing them as direct competitors. The Kartik Aaryan film, initially referred to as Aashiqui 3, is currently undergoing a title revision. Meanwhile, Thama includes a cast featuring Rashmika Mandanna, Paresh Rawal, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. It is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, with a screenplay crafted by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Fulara, and is produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik.

Anurag Basu on the Aashiqui 3 Title Change

The impending competition between these two films at the box office promises to be one of the year's most significant confrontations, particularly during a major holiday weekend. In a recent interview with Indian Express, Anurag Basu commented on the title change of his film, stating, “I am currently unaware of the film's title; production is set to commence this month. We have yet to finalize the female lead, but an announcement will be made within a week.”

Basu also addressed the departure of Triptii Dimri from the project, refuting claims that her previous roles influenced the decision. “Her image was not a factor in this situation. I would never judge an actor based on their past performances. The narrative of Aashiqui has evolved beyond its original premise… I am uncertain about the origin of these rumors. The primary issue was scheduling conflicts. Triptii is engaged in a project with Vishal Bhardwaj, and my film is also set to begin production this month. She remains my close friend, and I hold her in high regard as an actress. It would be worthwhile to ask her about the circumstances as well.”

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