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Janhvi Kapoor breaks silence on Param Sundari vs Chennai Express comparisons: ‘Not all people from the South can be…’

The trailer of Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra's upcoming film Param Sundari left many fans wondering whether it shares the same story as Chennai Express.

Updated on: Aug 26, 2025 08:23 PM IST
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Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra are busy promoting Param Sundari, which opens in theatres this Friday. Ever since the trailer for the cross-cultural romance dropped, many fans have been comparing the plot of the film with the 2013 release Chennai Express. The Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer also had a similar cross-cultural romance in the narrative. (Also read: Janhvi Kapoor says her character in Param Sundari is ‘half-Tamilian, half-Malayali' amid backlash over her casting)

What Sid and Janhvi said

Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor's Param Sundari trailer had many comparing the film with SRK, Deepika Padukone's Chennai Express. (Photos: X)
Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor's Param Sundari trailer had many comparing the film with SRK, Deepika Padukone's Chennai Express. (Photos: X)

Appearing in an interview for Mirchi Plus, when the two of them were asked what they made of these comparisons with Chennai Express, Sidharth said, “I think it's a great thing. I love Chennai Express! I think it's a good reference. I take it as a compliment. The picture was released 10 years ago. Definitely, these two films are not the same!”

‘It’s a different milieu altogether’

Janhvi added, "It’s a hit movie and an iconic movie. But Deepika [Padukone] played a Tamilian in the film, and I play a half-Tamilian, half-Malayali girl… which, if you think about it, is a generalisation happening from the people who are comparing the two films. I am from Kerala in the film, and not all people from the South can be grouped together. It’s a different milieu altogether, and it’s not like that this is a repetitive thing at all. 2 States was similar, but it came after Chennai Express, and these kinds of films aren’t being released every year. The point is people aren’t comparing us to something that needs to be forgotten, Chennai Express was an iconic film, with iconic characters and actors.”

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das

Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha

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