Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan’s Udta Teer has managed to get people talking across the border even before its release. While the trailer has found a positive response among Indian viewers for its unusual take on patriotism and comedy, sections of Pakistani social media have criticised the film’s India-Pakistan angle.

The trailer introduces Ayushmann as Bilal Ahmed, a Pakistani intelligence operative who loses his memory after an accident and starts believing that he is an Indian counter-terrorism officer. What follows is a mix of mistaken identity, action and comedy, with Sara playing an officer who becomes part of his new life.

Since its release, Indian viewers have praised the trailer for bringing a different flavour to the familiar India-Pakistan setup. Many reactions have focused on Ayushmann’s comic timing and the film’s chaotic premise, while some have also drawn comparisons with Dhurandhar but pointed out that Udta Teer takes the subject in a lighter direction.

At the same time, the trailer has not gone down well with everyone across the border. Several Pakistani social media users have questioned Bollywood’s continued use of Pakistan as a subject, with some calling out what they see as an obsession with the neighbouring country. Others have responded to the trailer with sarcasm and jokes rather than outright criticism.

The contrasting reactions have added another layer to the buzz around Udta Teer. Directed by Akash A Kaushik and produced by Karan Johar, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Achin Jain, the film is set to release in cinemas on October 9.