Redditors go wild after Anurag Basu denies rewriting Kartik-Sreeleela film Post-Saiyaara success: ‘Sad ending is my prediction'

Time of India

3 days ago

After Mohit Suri's Saiyaara big box office success, all eyes are now on Anurag Basu's Aashiqui 3, another romantic drama fans have been waiting for. With Saiyaara winning hearts, many began to wonder if it will influence Aashiqui 3, especially since both films revolve around love and music. Amid growing comparisons, Basu has now stepped in to clear the air.
Addressing the buzz, Aashiqui 3 director Anurag Basu has made it clear that there is no change in his film's script, despite the similarities being pointed out by fans online.
Saiyaara vs. Aashiqui 3: Similar only in parts
Mohit Suri had earlier revealed that Saiyaara was initially conceptualized as a script for Aashiqui, but the film later took a different direction. Featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara struck a chord with audiences, especially with its emotional plot and music.
This led to comparisons with Aashiqui 3 which stars Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela, sparked rumors of delays and script rewrites. In a recent interview with Mid-Day, Anurag Basu responded to all the speculation. 'Mohit and I are very close. I'm happy for his film's success. The only similarity between our films is that the male lead is a rockstar, the stories are otherwise very different,' Basu said.
He also dismissed any talk of script changes. 'In my film, the girl doesn't have dementia or any other condition. I was aware of the Alzheimer's angle in Saiyaara, so there's no reason to repeat it in my story,' he clarified.
40% of the shoot is complete
Basu also confirmed the current progress of the film. About 40% of the movie has been shot so far. He shared, 'In August and September, we plan another schedule where Kartik will appear clean-shaven. Right now, he's filming Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, which requires a different look. Continuity is the only challenge. Once he wraps that, we'll lock the next phase.'
Redditors spin wild theories
While Basu has set the record straight, Reddit users are still busy guessing the plot of Aashiqui 3. One user drew comparisons with Laila Majnu, writing, 'In this movie Karthik is a homeless nashedi. He looks like Qais when he goes mad in Laila Majnu'
Another user predicted a tragic ending: 'Rockstar mein Nargis ko blood cancer tha, Aashiqui 2 mein Aditya was alcoholic, and I feel like Sreeleela will also have a terminal disease. A sad ending is my prediction for the movie.'
A third user went even further with their imagination: 'My prediction is that Kartik and Sreeleela go to a jungle, she gets bitten by a mosquito, gets dengue, and dies. Kartik loses his sanity and takes sanyas in that jungle; hence, why he looks homeless. The end.'
Amid all the guessing, some users showed faith in Anurag Basu's vision. One person wrote, 'Even if it's similar to Saiyaara, the difference in Basu's direction & Suri's direction will make Basu's film far superior. Basu doesn't copy Korean films; he gets inspired by world cinema (Barfi), and his cinematography is world class (check Jagga Jasoos).'
About Aashiqui 3
The first-look teaser of Aashiqui 3 was unveiled in October 2024, with Anurag Basu on board as writer and director. Initially announced for a Diwali 2025 release, the film is now eyeing an early 2026 premiere. Music for the movie is being composed by Pritam, a longtime collaborator of Basu. The film is backed by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under the T-Series banner.