After breaking box office records with over Rs. 400 crores worldwide, “Saiyaara” has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian romantic films of all time, proving that audiences are still hungry for classic Bollywood love stories.

Director Mohit Suri’s latest musical romance starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda wasn’t always meant to be a standalone film. Suri recently revealed that “Saiyaara” was originally conceived as “Aashiqui 3” before creative differences led him to develop it independently under Yash Raj Films.

“I thought of this idea for Aashiqui 3, which is now ‘Saiyaara’. But they were in a hurry and wanted to announce it, which is something I was not comfortable with,” Suri explained. The decision proved fortuitous, as fans and critics are calling it worthy of the ‘Aashiqui’ legacy.

Reviews have been largely positive, with many praising the fresh chemistry between the lead pair. Ahaan Panday’s portrayal of troubled musician Krish Kapoor has drawn comparisons to Aditya Roy Kapur’s iconic Aashiqui 2 character, while Aneet Padda’s Vaani brings depth to the poet battling early-onset Alzheimer’s.

 

Image courtesy of Yash Raj Film Studios