Mohit Suri’s latest film ‘Saiyaara’ has taken the country by storm – and with it, launched its lead pair, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, into overnight stardom. In a conversation with India Today, the filmmaker opened up about how the young actors are navigating fame and how their journey is giving him a renewed sense of excitement.
When asked how Ahaan and Aneet are coping with the newfound attention, Mohit revealed, “They both call me at least twice a day to tell me their plan. I don’t know why (laughs). I think they call their parents, and then they call me. And by the end of the day, they always have something unexpected to share that happened.”
He added that watching them experience stardom for the first time has been energising: “It’s just such a beautiful moment – seeing them discover this phase of their lives. For them, it’s all new. While I’m obviously happy about the film’s success and the love it’s getting, the most heartening part is seeing it all through their eyes. It genuinely feels like I’m back at the beginning of my own career. It’s a reset.”
Reflecting on the response, Mohit said, “From 6 pm to 9 pm, I take time out just to receive calls from people telling me how much they’ve loved the film. And I love that. But what I love even more is seeing Ahaan and Aneet being celebrated. It’s surreal.”
Interestingly, the debutants have been kept away from the media to maintain a sense of mystery and intrigue – something the makers are consciously preserving as the buzz around ‘Saiyaara’ continues to grow.
The romantic drama ‘Saiyaara’ is currently ruling the Indian box office.
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