From 'Saiyaara', 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan' to 'Dhadak 2': Internet spots striking similarities in film posters, calls out 'copy-paste' trend

Time of India

3 days ago

Ardent Bollywood fans, known for their sharp observational skills, are now turning their attention to movie posters. Social media is abuzz with users increasingly highlighting the striking visual similarities between recent Hindi film releases.
From the posters of National Award winners
Vikrant Massey
and
Shanaya Kapoor
's 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan', to Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri's 'Dhadak 2', and Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's 'Saiyaara', fans are pointing out a concerning "copy-paste" trend in Bollywood's marketing.
Here's a closer look at it
Netizens react to the posters
Netizens took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share the side-by-side comparisons, criticizing what they call a "copy-paste" trend in Bollywood poster design, which includes everything from the framing of romantic leads where they stick their foreheads together to nearly identical backdrops and poses.
Reddit was quick to comment after a user shared the posters for Bollywood's most recent slate of films, which looked similar.
A poster of 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' by Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani was shared on the internet, and it was compared to a 'Saiyaara' poster. "Saiyara is also very close to this," the netizen wrote. The color scheme is too similar. Another compares it to Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor.
"I mean, how much innovation do you want for romantic films? There will only be a select few poses," another person stated.
A fan joked, "Everyone is doing this in their shadi pics too!"
Internet calls for originality
The discussion saw some fans advocating for designers to re-embrace originality and creative risk-taking in visual marketing. They argued that the repetitive aesthetics stifle creativity and make new releases indistinguishable.
On the other hand, some defended the aesthetic overlap, suggesting it's merely a common stylistic choice prevalent within the industry, particularly for films within the same genre.
Box office performances of the films under radar
The films whose posters sparked this debate have seen varied success at the box office.
'Saiyaara', a
YRF
production, has been a commercial success, buoyed by its popular cast, catchy songs, and compelling storytelling. The movie has garnered over Rs 300 crore globally, making it one of 2025's most successful projects.
'Dhadak 2', starring Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, however, had a slow start. It struggled to attract a devoted fanbase, especially when compared to Ajay Devgn's 'Son of Sardaar 2' franchise. 'Son of Sardaar 2' significantly outperformed 'Dhadak 2' on its opening day, earning an impressive Rs 6.75 crore against 'Dhadak 2's Rs 3.35 crore.
Similarly, 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan', featuring Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor, also had a modest theatrical run. Despite an opening of Rs 1.61 crore, the film did not manage to perform well at the box office overall.