17 July,2025 03:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mohit Suri on Saiyaara casting
Ananya Panday's cousin and Chunky Panday's nephew Ahaan Panday is all set to make his Bollywood debut with Saiyaara. So far, the film has received great response and is eyeing a good opening. Ahaan is undergoing rigorous training under YRF head honcho Aditya Chopra. However, audition did not get him his debut film. In a recent interview, Mohit Suri shares how observing Ahaan in an informal setting impacted his decision to cast him.
In a podcast with Cyrus Broacha, the Half Girlfriend director was asked about his conversations with Chopra. He recalled, "Aditya sir asked me, âWhy aren't you looking at new actors for this?' I told him I didn't think it would be feasible. But he said this film should only be made with fresh faces."
He further added how Ahaan's audition didn't impress him and shared, "I can say this today. I didn't really care much about Ahaan's audition. But there was something about the guy that seemed interesting. So I said, âLet's go out for dinner'. So, he takes me to this formal place, and he's really behaving himselfâ¦"
He continued, "I get him a couple of drinks down, and then he's taken me to some place in South Bombay with all these kids. And then I see the real Ahaan Panday. And then he's standing on the bar, and I'm like, âThis is the guy I want for my film'. That's the audition that got him selected." Speaking about the casting process in general, Suri reflected, "It's not always related to your talent, or how well you did the shot. It's just what the director is looking for that day."
Yash Raj Films dropped the teaser of the film on their social media handles, describing the film as, "An intense love story that will break your heart and heal it too." The film also stars Aneet Pada marking her first big-screen outing. Saiyaara is set to release on July 18, 2025 in theatres worldwide. The advance booking of the film recently opened and it raked in 4 crores so far.
