Director Apoorv Singh Karki’s latest film, Prem Keetanu, was released in theaters on October 2, 2026. The romantic comedy is a Hindi remake of the 2024 Malayalam hit Premalu.
Prem Keetanu stars Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Sayed, and Aparshakti Khurana in lead roles. The film was produced by Gaurav Verma under the banner Avanika Films.
Karki is known for his previous work on the courtroom drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and the popular streaming series Aspirants.
A Difficult Opening Weekend
Prem Keetanu faced a challenging start at the box office. On its opening day, the film collected only 0.5 crore across 1,800 shows, with an occupancy rate of 12 percent.
The film released on the same day as Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3, which dominated the box office. The competition severely limited Prem Keetanu’s audience.
By the end of its second day, the film’s total collection was 85 lakh net in India. Over 800 shows were cut after the first day due to low demand.
Trade analysts have reported that the film was made on a budget of 20-25 crore. It has recovered only a small fraction of its cost.
Casting and Director’s Vision
Karki defended his decision to cast Veer Pahariya as a college student. The casting drew some criticism on social media.
In an interview, Karki said, ‘Veer ke chehre pe innocence hai. Vishal ka joh character voh play kar raha hai voh ek masoom sa bachcha hai.’
He added, ‘All of us have been one film old. That is never my measuring criteria. Veer ne bohot zyada surrender kiya hai iss project ko.’
Karki also stated, ‘As a director, Veer mere liye right choice thi. Film dekhne ke baad sab ko realise hoga ki there is a lot of innocence on his face.’
Critical Reception
Reviews for Prem Keetanu were mixed to negative. Several critics felt the remake lost the charm of the original Malayalam film.
The Telegraph India wrote that the film ‘strips away much of its softness’ and ‘keeps changing its tone.’
Cinema Express called it a ‘soulless assault on the senses’ and criticized its understanding of the rom-com genre.
The Print stated that the film ‘adds spectacle to the whole affair’ and fails to understand why the original worked.
Some reviewers, however, found the film to be a decent entertainer. Bollywood Hungama rated it 2 out of 5 and said it was a ‘decent entertainer but suffers from a weak second half.’
The Times of India gave it 3 out of 5, calling it a ‘breezy Gen Z rom-com that scores on humour and youthful charm.’
About the Director
Apoorv Singh Karki began his career with the TVF series Aspirants. He directed both seasons of the show.
His 2023 film Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, starring Manoj Bajpayee, received critical acclaim. He followed it with the action film Bhaiyya Ji in 2024.
Prem Keetanu marks his first theatrical release as a director. He has also directed the web series Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd.
The film’s soundtrack was launched at an event in Mumbai on October 1, 2026. The album features songs by Sachet-Parampara, Armaan Malik, and Sukriti Kakkar.
Prem Keetanu is currently running in theaters across India. The film’s total India net collection is 1.15 crore as of its third day.