Param Sundari Stars Push Back Against ‘Chennai Express’ Comparisons

Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra emphasise distinct setting, cultural nuance—and address backlash over Malayali stereotypes in their cross-cultural rom-com

Bollywood’s upcoming romantic comedy Param Sundari, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra, has ignited both excitement and debate as audiences draw parallels with the 2013 blockbuster Chennai Express. The lead pair recently addressed the comparisons, stressing that their film represents a very different cultural space and storyline.

In an interview, Janhvi Kapoor explained that while Chennai Express is “a hit movie, and it is an iconic movie,” lumping the two together stems from a broad generalisation. “Deepika played a Tamilian in that film, whereas I’m portraying a half-Malayali, half-Tamilian from Kerala. Not all South Indians are the same—Param Sundari exists in a very different milieu,” she said. She further pointed out that while 2 States was also a North-South love story, such films are not a recurring trend, and therefore Param Sundari cannot be dismissed as repetitive.

Sidharth Malhotra echoed her thoughts but took the comparison more lightly, calling it flattering. “We don’t mind the comparison at all—I think it is a compliment. I love that film and I’m a fan of Rohit Shetty’s work. But the films are not the same—Shah Rukh wasn’t playing a Delhi guy, and the story never took them to Kerala. Here, Janhvi is playing a half-Malayali, half-Tamilian,” he said. He added that Param Sundari is more about reviving Bollywood’s rom-com charm, in the tradition of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum, and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

Despite the actors’ clarifications, the trailer has sparked criticism, particularly among Malayali audiences. Viewers noted issues with Janhvi’s Malayalam diction, with certain words used incorrectly, drawing attention to Bollywood’s repeated misrepresentation of South Indian culture. Filmmaker Shruti Sharanyam also criticised the film for reducing Malayali women to stereotypes—coconut-carrying, jasmine-wearing tropes—and argued that Bollywood owes more authentic portrayals.

Directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, Param Sundari is set for release on August 29, 2025, after a slight delay from its original July schedule. The film tells the story of a North Indian man from Delhi and a South Indian woman from Kerala, exploring cultural friction, romance, and comedy.

Industry watchers suggest the film is part of a larger revival of Bollywood romances. With recent hits reigniting interest in emotional storytelling, Param Sundari arrives at a moment when audiences seem ready to embrace nostalgic rom-coms once again.