Mohit Suri reveals Ahaan Panday auditioned for 'Saiyaara' with scenes from Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and Shahid Kapoor's 'Kabir Singh'
Mohit Suri
has opened up about the unconventional journey of debutant actor Ahaan Panday in his new film 'Saiyaara'. In a candid chat, the director, who is gearing up for the release of the film, also revealed how producer
Aditya Chopra
sensed Panday's initial hesitation.
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Suri shared that while Ahaan's audition reels featured intense scenes from '
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
' and 'Kabir Singh', along with a comic bit from 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania', something still felt missing. 'I wasn't fully convinced,' Suri admitted. 'The tapes were good, but I couldn't see the raw spark I was looking for.' It wasn't until Suri decided to observe the young talent in a more casual environment that things changed.
Describing a late-night outing with Ahaan and his friends, Suri recalled, 'He was too formal in meetings, kept calling me 'sir'. I told him to stop that. Within 15 minutes, I was bro.' It was that shift in comfort that helped Suri see the real Ahaan. 'Around 2 or 3 AM, I saw him sitting on top of the bar, not the stool, the bar itself, laughing, animated, just living the moment. That's when I saw my lead character. He had it in him all along.
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'
Ahaan, reportedly nervous in front of Aditya, was said to be 'too scared' during early interactions. But once he shed that pressure, his natural energy emerged—enough to land him the role.
Known for guiding newcomers in emotionally charged films like '
Aashiqui 2
' and 'Ek Villain,' Suri said he prefers working with fresh talent. 'You play to their strengths and quietly support their weaker spots,' he said, confident that Ahaan fits perfectly into the intense romantic world of Saiyaara.
Also starring debutante Aneet Padda, Saiyaara marks a bold step for Yash Raj Films into Gen-Z romance. The film's trailer, released on July 8, has already sparked strong online buzz ahead of its theatrical release.
Saiyaara - Official Trailer
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