Shaan R Grover says playing a red flag in Saiyaara was emotionally unsettling: 'I'm nothing like him...'
The actor acknowledged in an open interview that Mahesh's actions, particularly when he was around women, made him feel totally uncomfortable and actually disturbed him while filming.
Shaan says Mahesh's toxic traits clashed with his own values
In conversation with Filmygyan, Grover explained that stepping into Mahesh's shoes wasn't just creatively challenging, it also stirred discomfort on a personal level. While he didn't feel the need to prove that he's different from Mahesh, he said it was hard playing someone so emotionally negligent and detached.
According to Shaan, portraying a character who ghosts his fiancée and walks away without explanation made him uneasy, especially knowing that some viewers might associate him with such behavior.
He told Filmygyan that he hoped people would hate the character, as Mahesh deserved to be criticized for how he treated his partner but added that the possibility of being personally linked to that toxicity unsettled him during the shoot.
About Saiyaara: heartbreak, redemption, and music
Released in July 2025, 'Saiyaara' follows Krish Kapoor played by
Ahaan Panday
, a gifted but emotionally wounded musician, and Vaani Batra played by Aneet Padda, a journalist healing from the heartbreak of being abandoned by Mahesh Iyer just before their wedding.
The movie is directed by Mohit Suri and backed by Yash Raj Films; the romantic drama explores how two broken people find healing and love in the middle of grief, guilt, and creative reinvention.
Shaan's character acts as the impetus for Vaani's journey from betrayal to empowerment.
The film's music, composed by Amaal Mallik and Rochak Kohli, has become a hit, with tracks like 'Barbaad,' 'Tum Ho Toh,' and the title song 'Saiyaara' resonating deeply across platforms.
Audience reactions: hate that feels like praise
In spite of the emotional challenge of the role, Shaan said he found validation in viewers' reactions. He's received messages from fans who told him they 'hated' Mahesh but added that their anger came from how convincingly he played the character.
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News18
3 hours ago
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Saiyaara Box Office Day 8: Ahaan Panday Film Crosses Rs 190 Crore, Beats Housefull 5
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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
If you are young and this movie made you cry, ask yourself this question
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If I asked about their dreams, the answer was always the same. They were very clear. They will make money. They will retire. They will travel the world. This may sound completely normal to you if you are young. But, for me, a man from Gen-past, this was a huge surprise because all we could dream of when we were young was to get the girl/guy we were madly in love with. We were clear too. We wanted to our love interest to speak the three magical words of 'I love you'. And that was it. Our colleges led to as much education as heart breaks or moments of bliss when the other person also said, 'I love you'. Reality that money is the prime mover of the world did hit us, but it was a thereafter-realisation that arrived once we had passed the test of love. Due to this (misplaced?) priority for love that we suffered from, we were prone to crying in the romantic movies. So crying in the movies was not an exception but a norm, for our generation. What we know for sure is that your generation is not like us. Even if we try to think otherwise, your generation that doesn't believe in mincing words always makes it clear to us. So, What doesn't make sense is that you are crying!!! And if you are crying, I suggest that you need to introspect and find out why. As I am from a generation where people fell in love without the pragmatism that your generation has, I have a humble proposition for you to consider, especially because we have experienced the power of love. Look within. You could be crying because you too must have loved just like every other generation. The problem is that your realism must have led you to question that feeling using logic. So, while your heart must have gone down head over heels, your cynicism would have made you rationalise it as a stupid waste of time. You would have put your biological love to the test of financial and worldly realities and it would have fared poorly, making you bury it. While you must have forgotten about it and got busy with work and career, knowing love, let me tell you something that I know. The world may have moved on (as per you), but love is a very stubborn and ancient force that never believes in following the world. Love has a job to do which is considered to be of paramount importance by the mother-system called Life-on-Earth. You may want to make marketing presentations and climb the corporate ladder or build a start up and sell it for a billion dollars, but love doesn't care wee bit. All it wants is that you go through the inconvenience of going forth and multiplying just as your ancestors have done continuously for almost four billion years. You may have managed to forget it by being a realist (to your imaginary reality), love will never forget or forgive (as it responds to the actual and the only reality in which you exist as a body). 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India.com
6 hours ago
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Saiyaara Box Office Collection Day 8: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda's romantic saga continues to storm, beats Raid 2 lifetime, earns Rs...
Saiyaara madness is continuing to hold its presence at the theater halls. Helmed by Mohit Suri, the movie, which was released on July 18, has made the entire nation go gaga over the mushy romance. Featuring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara box office collection on day 8 stands at Rs 18 crore, as per early estimates given by industry tracker Sacnilk. Saiyaara Scripts History at the Box Office Saiyaara is one of those few films that earned in double digits despite starring debutants. Saiyaara's day 1 box office collection stood at Rs 21 crore. In the following days, the movie witnessed a huge increase in numbers, peaking on day 3 when Saiyaara collected Rs 35.75 crore — which also happened to be a Sunday. Mohit Suri's film maintained its magic by minting Rs 24 crore on its first Monday. It is often said that the first Monday for a film is extremely crucial as it decides the graph of the movie. Now, with Saiyaara's box office collection on day 8, the movie has grossed Rs 190 crore in India and will soon enter the Rs 200 crore club. Saiyaara Box Office Collection Worldwide While Mohit Suri's romantic saga is making waves in India, the worldwide collection is also noteworthy. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Saiyaara has grossed a little over $5 million (approximately Rs 43 crore) in overseas markets, pushing its worldwide total to Rs 256 crore. Saiyaara has now crossed the lifetime haul of Ajay Devgn's Raid 2, which stands at Rs 237 crore. The film is expected to hold steady during the second weekend and now aims to surpass the collections of Sitaara Zameen Par (Rs 264 crore) and Housefull 5 (Rs 289 crore).
