In 2022, Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan and acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Basu created a buzz across the internet when they revealed their first collaboration, a film initially titled "Aashiqui 3". Over the past few months, the project has remained in the spotlight, particularly due to Triptii Dimri's involvement—first with reports of her joining the cast and then unexpectedly stepping away. Speculation arose that her image following "Animal" (2023), where she starred alongside Ranbir Kapoor, was not aligned with the film's requirements.

Earlier this month, in a conversation with HT City, Anurag Basu addressed these rumours, clarifying that the movie's title had been changed and that the official announcement of the new female lead was imminent. Speaking about Triptii's departure, he attributed it to scheduling conflicts rather than any other speculated reasons.

Now, with the film's teaser finally released, it has been confirmed that Sreeleela will be starring opposite Kartik Aaryan in the musical.

Sreeleela has been making waves ever since she set the stage on fire with her electrifying dance performance in "Pushpa 2: The Rule" last year, alongside Allu Arjun, in the hit item song "Kissik". Primarily known for her work in Telugu and Kannada cinema, she is now set to step into Bollywood with this debut role opposite Kartik Aaryan in a musical directed by Anurag Basu, with music composed by Pritam.

The film's teaser was released yesterday, though its official title remains undisclosed. However, in the short clip, Kartik's character can be seen singing "Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai", hinting at the film's romantic essence. His on-screen chemistry with Sreeleela appears to be intense, as he portrays a heartbroken rockstar deeply immersed in his passionate attachment with her.

The recently released teaser, along with Kartik Aaryan's rugged look—featuring long hair, a scruffy beard, and a guitar in hand—has sparked comparisons to two iconic films: Ranbir Kapoor's "Rockstar" (2011) and Shahid Kapoor's "Kabir Singh" (2019). Social media users were quick to point this out, with one commenting, "'Rockstar' x 'Kabir Singh'?" while another humorously remarked, "If Kabir Singh and Jordan had a kid." Another viewer noted, "Looks like a mix of 'Kabir Singh' and 'Aashiqui'."

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At the same time, many fans expressed excitement over Kartik and Sreeleela's fresh onscreen pairing. One comment read, "Sreeleela looks like a refreshing match for him, not gonna lie. Excited!" while another gushed, "That's a hot-looking couple!"

Despite the speculation, the film has not been officially confirmed as "Aashiqui 3". This highly anticipated musical is set to hit theatres on Diwali 2025, where it will face a major box office clash with "Thama", a horror-comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna.