Did you know Mohit Suri did not like Ahaan Panday for ‘Saiyaara’? Director reveals he actually 'rejected him’

Mohit Suri’s work on ‘Saiyaara’ has been heavily praised by many. It was an instant hit, and debut stars Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda quickly rose to fame after their work on the film. In a recent interview, Suri delved into ‘Saiyaara’ success and even opened up about the bond and history he shares with Panday. Along with that, he revealed a surprising detail about the film, sharing that Ahaan was almost not cast for the film.

Mohit Suri on his first expression of Ahaan Panday

The famed director, while talking to Variety India, revealed that at first, he was not sure about Panday’s casting and had even rejected the artist. Describing his first expression of Ahaan, he revealed that Aditya Chopra had pitched him and had told him to meet Ahaan in his office, which was also essentially his “pad” where he wrote and relaxed.





Suri commented, “He comes there, and I didn’t find him like Krish Kapoor at all. I found him to be a sweet, really soft boy. So I told Adi sir, ‘He is not the kind of guy.’ And we did spend two or three meetings where I actually completely rejected him.” Chopra further encouraged him to talk to Ahaan and even said that he should be honest about the rejection face-to-face. Suri said that he went to dinner with the actor, and the moment he told him that he was not being cast in the film, a veil dropped.

“I think that’s when he stopped pretending to impress me, and we just went out like normal people. And suddenly that night, I saw him come alive. Because by the end of the night, I can’t talk about the details, but he was standing at the bar. And he was pretty much like Krish Kapoor,” he concluded.

Mohit Suri on his bond with Ahaan Panday

Suri also revealed that he shares a deep connection with the film’s lead actor, Ahaan Panday. Revealing that he knew the debut star even before his birth, Suri commented, “My father and his father were surprisingly friends when my father was probably my age, and his dad was probably his age. And that’s weird, because I remember meeting his dad. He was probably not born even at that time.”

More on ‘Saiyaara’

The 2025 Indian language film was one of Mohit Suri’s biggest hits. Actors Aneet Padda and Ahaan Pandey debuted in the film world with this movie. The story revolved around a girl who has been diagnosed with early onset of a memory-related ailment, and a struggling musician who unexpectedly crosses paths. One thing leads to another, and the two create a deep bond. The film, as per Sacnilk, amassed around Rs 579 crore at the box office, while the budget for the film was around Rs 35 crore to 50 crore, making it a massive box office hit.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”