Ahead of the release of Saiyaara, filmmaker Mohit Suri opened up about the unconventional process of casting debutant Ahaan Panday in the Yash Raj Films production. In a candid conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Suri recalled how Ahaan’s selection wasn’t a result of just an audition tape—it was the outcome of observing him in his natural element, outside the confines of formal meetings.

EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Suri reveals Aditya Chopra sensed his doubts about casting Ahaan Panday in Saiyaara; says the debutant was “too scared of him”

“Aditya Chopra made me meet Ahaan Panday and showed me all his auditions,” said Suri. “The ones that caught my eye were scenes from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Kabir Singh, and surprisingly, a comedy bit from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. But I still wasn’t satisfied.”

According to Suri, the breakthrough moment came not in an office or casting room, but during a night out. After a few formal meetings, where Ahaan appeared “too well-behaved,” Suri decided to meet him in a more informal setting.

“I told him to stop calling me ‘sir’. In 15 minutes, I was ‘bro’—that’s what I love about this generation,” Suri quipped. It was during a late-night outing with Ahaan and his friends that the director finally saw what he was looking for. “Around 2 or 3 AM, I saw this guy sitting on the bar—not the stool, but on top of the bar—being the exact character I wanted him to be. That’s when I knew he was right.”

Suri, who has worked extensively with newcomers across generations, added that he feels more comfortable guiding fresh faces. “With new people, you capture their strengths and cover their minuses. Ahaan, once he dropped his guard, naturally eased into the role.”

Saiyaara marks the big-screen debut of both Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, and is slated to be an intense romantic drama. Backed by Yash Raj Films and helmed by Suri, known for directing emotionally-driven love stories like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, the film has generated significant buzz, especially after the release of its trailer on July 8.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Suri ADMITS YRF took a risk with Saiyaara starring “newcomers” Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda; says, “I was feeling scared to ask my producer to invest”

More Pages: Saiyaara Box Office Collection

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