Saiyaara has become a massive hit, earning over Rs. 500 crore in recent weeks while launching the careers of newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The film has also revived director Mohit Suri’s career, which struggled after his last movie, Ek Villain Returns, flopped.
In an interview, Suri shared that the industry had written him off after that failure, but the same people who doubted him were surprised by Saiyaara’s success. He also talked about viral videos showing audiences with strong reactions to the film, revealing that some people he considered friends tried to blackmail him for positive reviews.
In a YouTube interview with Faridoon Shahryar, Suri was asked about viral videos of audience members ranting, raving, fainting, and showing big reactions to Saiyaara. He explained that his mentor, Mahesh Bhatt, always taught him to aim for physical reactions from viewers, as they’re hard to fake, unlike written reviews. “I just don’t read reviews,” he said, adding, “A couple of them called me also, saying, ‘We are going to write a bad review unless you…’ I’m like, ‘Write it, I won’t read it’. I’ll make a film, you have a right to watch it or not watch it. Same way, you make your content, I won’t read it.”
Suri also mentioned that when he started his career, the press ignored him. He noted that his earlier hit, Aashiqui 2, was overlooked by some circles. “Now, when my film releases, I delete all my social media. I stay away, because I don’t know which one is genuine and which one is not. Some of them are my friends, and I know that they charge money for it,” he said, emphasizing that on-ground audience reactions are more authentic.
In the same interview, Suri revealed that after Ek Villain Returns failed, many in the industry doubted him. However, YRF’s Aditya Chopra believed in him and encouraged him to make Saiyaara with new actors. The film was originally meant to be Aashiqui 3, but due to conflicts between production companies, it was reworked into Saiyaara and produced by YRF. The success of Saiyaara has put Mohit Suri back in the spotlight.
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