New Delhi: A new north-south love story is set to hit theatres on 25 July 2025. Dating back to Kamal Hassan and Rati Agnihotri’s 1981 hit Ek Duuje Ke Liye, the trend was revived in the early 2010s with Chennai Express and 2 States. Now, Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra are coming together to bridge the north-south divide with romance.
The two stars will collaborate for the first time in Param Sundari, directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. In the poster, Malhotra is seen holding Kapoor, both radiating charm in traditional South Indian attire.
“North ka swag, South ki grace – two worlds collide and sparks fly … Meet the suave Sidharth Malhotra as Param and the vivacious Janhvi Kapoor as Sundari,” read the caption of the Instagram post.
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Great expectations
North-south romances have long been a Bollywood favourite. Mixing chicken tikka with idli-sambhar and loud Punjabi weddings with traditional Carnatic performances, these films have generated box office magic.
“Love stories featuring characters from North and South India have always resonated with audiences,” said film business expert and producer Girish Johar. “Viewers enjoy the cultural clash, knowing the lovebirds will eventually come together.”
Film critic Kalpeshraj Kubal highlighted the marketing advantage of such projects.
“Pairing North and South Indian characters can broaden regional appeal,” he said. “However, a film’s success ultimately hinges on its full package—actors, script, music, and screenplay.”
While Kubal and Johar are optimistic about Param Sunari, others have their doubts.
Trade analyst Sumit Kadel doesn’t hold high expectations for Param Sundari’s success. He pointed out that Malhotra and Kapoor’s declining star power could negatively impact the film’s performance at the box office.
“Their ability to draw audiences to theatres is quite weak,” Kadel said.
Still, he acknowledged that the film might have a chance with a standout script and catchy music, similar to the hit Teri Baaton Mai Aisa Uljha Jiya, which raked in Rs 80 crore on a budget of Rs 40-50 crore.
However, audiences are now craving fresh narratives. The fate of Param Sundari will hinge on whether it can inject new life into a well-worn trope.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)