Shantanu Maheshwari, the 34-year-old dance-floor king from Dil Dosti Dance and Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 champ, moonwalked into Bollywood with Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), stealing hearts as Alia Bhatt’s dreamy tailor-boy Afsaan. That Bhansali banger (₹209.77 crore worldwide!) rode Alia’s star wattage and Sanjay’s magic, nabbing Shantanu an IIFA Debut award. Now, he’s groovin’ solo in Love in Vietnam (dropped today, Sept 12, 2025), a cross-border romance directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi, inspired by Madonna in a Fur Coat. Shantanu’s Manav chases love with Avneet Kaur and Kha Ngan, backed by OGs like Raj Babbar and Gulshan Grover.
Solo Sizzle? Pre-release vibes were lit—Cannes 2024 buzz, 10,000 China screens, and soulful tracks like “Fakira” had X hypin’ Shantanu’s lover-boy swag, with Varun Dhawan tossin’ love. Fans called him a “flying star,” ready to slay with Saiyaara-style feels. But early reviews? Oof—critics are throwin’ shade, callin’ it a “cringe-fest” with a “shaky script” and Shantanu’s emotional chops not quite poppin’. X whispers “meh” too, with the love triangle feelin’ flat.Big-Name Crutch? Shantanu’s TV fanbase is loyal, but Gangubai soared ‘cause of Alia’s clout. Without her or Bhansali’s razzle-dazzle, Love might flop like a bad remix. The $4M flick’s got China dreams, but it needs word-of-mouth to spark. Shantanu’s got heart, but for Bollywood’s big stage, he might need a tighter script or a megastar wingman to truly shine. Box office tea’s brewin’—let’s see if he’s a solo bop or a duet-dependent dude!
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