Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 1: Step out of the theatre after watching Tere Ishk Mein, and one thing becomes more striking than the love story — Bollywood has discovered a new obsession in the UPSC exam. For decades, Hindi cinema relied on IIT campuses, medical colleges, engineering classrooms and police uniforms to create aspirational worlds. Today, the Union Public Service Commission has emerged as the latest dramatic anchor.
In Tere Ishk Mein, the heroine’s IAS father throws a challenge at the directionless hero: “Bas prelims clear karke dikha do.” That single line becomes the engine of the entire story. The hero, who doesn’t even know what UPSC stands for, starts from scratch and eventually clears the prelims on his third attempt, triggering the next emotional phase of the film. Bollywood has tapped into a truth familiar to lakhs of aspirants — the UPSC prelims is not just an exam, but a deeply emotional milestone.
The craze is no coincidence. UPSC today represents the biggest middle-class dream. Over 12 lakh applicants each year and aspirant hubs like Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar have created an entire ecosystem filled with tension, failure, pressure and rare triumphs. For filmmakers, this world is naturally rich in drama. Recent films and shows like Aspirants, Meri Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana and 12th Fail have set the tone, turning UPSC journeys into relatable, heartfelt narratives. Tere Ishk Mein follows this path by making the prelims itself a defining twist.
Prelims carries mass emotional weight. It is often more unpredictable than the final result. One mistake can cost an entire year. Bollywood understands the psychological impact. A challenge like “clear prelims” instantly creates stakes and connects with millions who know the pain of this first hurdle.
Films reflect another truth — not everyone attempts UPSC out of pure passion. Some do it for validation, family expectations or the promise of status. On screen, the moment a character starts preparing for UPSC, they are instantly taken more seriously. The exam carries social credibility that Bollywood now uses to deepen characters and build emotional layers.
UPSC now sits comfortably in scripts because it naturally delivers high stakes, middle-class connection and a ready-made audience of aspirants, families and teachers. Yet no UPSC angle can rescue a weak film; strong writing remains essential.
The trend is unlikely to fade. As long as the civil services remain a national obsession, filmmakers will continue to incorporate them. What the industry still hasn’t fully explored is the raw reality — the loneliness, the burnout, the friendships, the reinventions and the quiet battles that shape real aspirant lives. Until then, audiences will keep seeing IAS fathers, confused heroes and prelims serving as dramatic turning points.