Filmmaker Mohit Suri recently opened up about the overwhelming success of his romance drama ‘Saiyaara,’ which became the highest-grossing film of the year and marked the debut of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Suri revealed that the film’s reception was so positive that even his competitors and those who had previously doubted his capabilities later considered the film’s triumph as their own.
During a session at FICCI Frames, Suri recalled the initial screenings, stating, “I remember when we had screenings on the day of release, and Ahaan’s family was seeing it and my family had seen it that day, and I remember the opening day box office numbers started coming in. The amount of love coming our way, I knew this was rare. This love was humbling.” He also mentioned how for weeks after the release, he had to dedicate his evenings to responding to calls from people worldwide who had watched and loved the film.
Suri elaborated on how the film’s success shifted perceptions, particularly among his competitors and other producers. “Surprisingly, they all felt it was their win,” he said, expressing that he had never witnessed such widespread affection for a film in his 20 years of filmmaking. He attributed this success to the film’s authenticity and purity in its making and promotion, emphasizing that they “stuck to the basics and took the film to the audience,” which ultimately resonated. ‘Saiyaara’ achieved a worldwide gross of ₹570 crore, solidifying its place as a landmark love story in Indian cinema.