A legal dispute over Kartik Aaryan’s upcoming film has halted its marketing, despite initial speculation that it would be part of the beloved Aashiqui franchise. The Anurag Basu-directed film has been eagerly anticipated by fans due to its relationship with the classic romance series. The project is in doubt due to a conflict between Mukesh Bhatt, producer of the original Aashiqui films, and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.
T-Series, helmed by Bhushan Kumar, planned to call the film Aashiqui 3 to capitalise on fans’ nostalgia for the franchise. Classic elements like “Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai” were used in promotional teasers and material, giving spectators every reason to believe this was the third installment. However, Mukesh Bhatt, co-creator of the original franchise, objected to the name. This relationship could mislead moviegoers and diminish the older pictures, he said.
T-Series was barred from using Aashiqui 3 by the Delhi High Court in September 2024. The court warned of consumer confusion and stressed the need to preserve the original franchise. This verdict has left the picture nameless, forcing the makers to rebrand it months before the scheduled Diwali 2025 premiere.
Kartik Aaryan supported keeping the title to maintain the Aashiqui link. His entry into this renowned series delighted his followers too. The project will include music from the original films, but the team and fans are sad that they cannot use the franchise name.
This setback is a major obstacle for producers. Marketing, trailers, and partnerships are disrupted by the title change. Due to Diwali’s competitive release schedule, rebranding the picture and building awareness under a new name is a priority.
Sources say the filmmakers are currently negotiating a legal solution that fits their creative vision. Time is running out as PR campaigns usually begin months before a major release.
Despite these obstacles, the picture remains one of the year’s most talked-about. Fans hope the title issue may be rectified to retain the Aashiqui series’ magic. Everyone is watching T-Series and Anurag Basu lead this enormous project. Will this nameless picture win hearts despite these challenges? Only time will tell.
