Acclaimed filmmaker Mohit Suri has revealed that several senior filmmakers had warned him against taking the risk of making a romantic film with newcomers. Speaking candidly during a recent interview, Suri shared that many from the industry tried to dissuade him from casting fresh faces in his upcoming love story, Saiyaara, which stars Ahaan Panday and debutante Pranati Rai Prakash.
“People told me it was career suicide,” Suri confessed. “Big names in the industry—people I respect—called me to say, ‘You’re known for successful films with established stars. Why would you gamble everything on newcomers in such a competitive time?’”
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Despite the warnings, Suri stood firm in his vision. Known for iconic romantic thrillers like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, the director explained that Saiyaara needed a fresh pairing to feel authentic and emotionally raw. “There’s a certain innocence, a charm, that only first-timers bring to a love story. You can’t recreate that with stars who have done it a hundred times,” he said.
Suri also revealed that casting Ahaan Panday, who comes from a well-known Bollywood family but had no prior film release, was based purely on instinct and performance, not pedigree. “He didn’t walk in with a surname. He walked in with hunger, and that’s what moved me,” Suri added.
Now that Saiyaara has struck a chord with audiences and critics alike—praised for its chemistry and sincerity—the gamble seems to have paid off. “I’m glad I didn’t listen to the fear,” Suri concluded. “Sometimes, you have to trust your gut, even if the whole world is screaming ‘don’t.’”
With Saiyaara making waves, Mohit Suri’s bold choice might just open the door for more newcomers in mainstream cinema.
