‘After Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday will be known as a lover': Director Mohit Suri says it's ‘amazing how things have fallen into place for the new boy'

Indian Express

6 days ago

Mohit Suri's romantic film Saiyaara has now earned Rs 83 crore over its opening weekend. It's the biggest opening for a Hindi film with newcomers ever. Suri is also glad that it's worked out well not only for him, but also the film's lead cast, newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.
'It's amazing how things have fallen into place for a new boy,' said Suri in the latest edition of Creator X Creator edition on SCREEN. He also credited longtime collaborator and music composer Mithoon for coming up with the apt introduction song for Panday in the form of Dhun, sung by Arijit Singh.
'I couldn't have asked for a better song to introduce a new boy into this world. He's going to be known as a lover even when he had nothing! It's got a lot to do with the song you gave for the situation,' said Suri in an intimate conversation with Mithoon.
Suri and Mithoon have collaborated for 20 years now, and delivered hits like Woh Lamhe Woh Baatein in Aksar (2005), Aadat in Kalyug (2005), Phir Mohabbat Karne Chala Hai Tu in Murder 2 (2011), Tum Hi Ho in Aashiqui 2 (2013), Humdard in Ek Villain (2014), Main Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga in Half Girlfriend (2017), and most recently, Dhun in Saiyaara.
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'It's like life's come a full circle after 20 years. We're still here, and we're still working with newcomers. If Aashiqui was the midpoint, we were working with newcomers even then, and we're working with newcomers even now,' pointed out Suri. He recalled telling 'the great' Tabu that it feels like he's been on this treadmill, in the sense that he's constantly running, but isn't going ahead. 'But you're so much fitter today,' she said in response.
'Sometimes, I miss the innocence of when we started off in 2005, when we didn't know anything,' said Suri, adding, 'When we started this film (Saiyaara), I always wanted to go back to the core of how we did things. In a pure way, there's no trapping, there's no big actor, there's no controlled way of making a film, but have a lot of heart and love in the way we made it.'
Saiyaara, produced by Akshaye Widhani, and backed by Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films, revolves around the turbulent relationship of a budding singer and a lyricist.