Saiyaara Director Mohit Suri Reveals Why Aneet Padda Was Chosen: 'She Was Untouched By...'
Mohit Suri reveals why he cast Aneet Padda in Saiyaara, sharing that her natural look and authentic vibe stood out in an age of cosmetic alterations.
Filmmaker Mohit Suri has opened up about the process of casting Big Girls Don't fame Aneet Padda in Saiyaara, where she stars opposite debutant Ahaan Panday. While the film is basking in audience love and raking in impressive box office numbers, Suri reveals that finding Aneet wasn't an easy task—it took nearly five months.
In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Mohit shared that the role demanded a young woman between 20 to 22 years old, someone untouched by cosmetic procedures—something he admitted was 'rare in today's age."
'That was a major requirement," he said. 'I didn't expect it to be such a bigger requirement. Not only that, I needed someone who felt real, someone who hadn't something to themselves. She had done some work before, and she was brilliant at it."
Mohit said Aneet's authenticity made her perfect for the role of a middle-class Punjabi girl from Amritsar. 'She just fit right in," he said, adding, 'We often have the wrong idea of what small-town India is like—they're actually more conventionally 'out there' than we are. She had more to share with me than I had with her."
Aneet reportedly auditioned for several filmmakers prior to Saiyaara, including Anurag Kashyap and Kunal Deshmukh. Even YRF's casting head Shanoo Sharma had vouched for her talent. 'That's when I knew she was good," Mohit said.
As for her performance, Suri believes Aneet is 'predominantly a great actor," especially for the layered role she was entrusted with in the emotionally charged romantic drama.
Meanwhile, Saiyaara has proved to be a sleeper hit at the box office. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film collected ₹24 crore on its second day (Saturday), taking its two-day total to ₹45 crore. It opened with ₹21 crore on Day 1, surpassing the collections of big-budget projects like Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, Akshay Kumar's Kesari Chapter 2, and Ajay Devgn's Raid 2.
Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday's chemistry and Mohit Suri's signature emotional storytelling have clearly struck a chord with audiences across the country.
First Published:
July 20, 2025, 17:14 IST
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