Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Directed by Mohit Suri, the romantic musical launched two new actors — Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The film’s box office performance and audience reception exceeded expectations. Recently, Mohit Suri spoke about the impact of the film’s success and what it meant for Bollywood as a whole.
Mohit reveals conversation with Karan Johar
Speaking at FICCI Frames on Wednesday, Mohit Suri recalled his conversation with Karan Johar after the release of Saiyaara. “I met Karan Johar after the film released, and he said, ‘Thank you for the film you made.’ Of late, we’ve been dividing the world of entertainment into South directors and movies. I don’t know why we do that. I personally am a fan of a lot of them. But all of them called when they saw the film, saying that they really liked it,” he shared.
The director further mentioned Karan’s observation on the film’s success and its impact on the industry. “Karan pointed out that it has been years since we’ve been the ones calling them up to praise their films. But this time, they were the ones calling us. That’s what Bollywood films were known for,” he said.
Mohit on Saiyaara craze
Talking about the craze around Saiyaara, Mohit added, “I don’t want the dust to settle at all. What Saiyaara has done for me is very personal. It was a very liberating experience. It didn’t have to be that I had to cast someone just to make a film.”
“I’ve done this repeatedly in two decades, and you are always told that you can’t do it again. I do need a producer who backs me, but backs my vision because I am not a very money-minded person. As long as someone believes in me, I know I can make a film with authentic actors that does the numbers,” he added.
On keeping Saiyaara stars away from media
YRF CEO Akshaye Wadhwani, who was also part of the conversation, spoke about the reason behind keeping Ahaan and Aneet low-profile before the film’s release. “The strategy of keeping them hidden came up when we cast them. We said, ‘We’re making this film, we are very confident of their performances. I’m very confident that Mohit is going to deliver a creatively good film. Let’s not allow our actors to be judged by an Instagram reel or an interview going wrong, but rather let people judge their performances on screen.’”
“That strategy worked. I hope more people try it. What you have to be very sure and secure about is the film you’ve made. I didn’t have the pressures of working with big stars because I was working with newcomers. I could decide a few things, and they would agree,” he concluded.
