Mohit Suri Reveals Why He Chose Faheem Over Arijit Singh For Saiyaara Title Track: 'I've Moved On From...'

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Mohit Suri reveals why he chose Faheem Abdullah over Arijit Singh for Saiyaara's title song. "Arijit represents a cinema I did 14 years ago," he says.
Director Mohit Suri has once again proven that his instinct for spotting generational voices is razor-sharp. From introducing the soul-stirring vocals of KK and Arijit Singh in his early soundtracks to now betting on a complete newcomer, Faheem, for Saiyaara — Suri remains a filmmaker who lets the music speak first.
In a recent interview with NDTV, Suri explained why he didn't turn to Arijit Singh — the voice that became synonymous with his 2013 blockbuster Aashiqui 2 — for the title track of Saiyaara. 'Arijit represents a cinema that I did 14 years ago. I love Arijit, I did use him in one song. But when I was looking for Arijit… I love KK sir, but that wasn't Emraan Hashmi for me in those early films. Then I found Arijit. So only when you seek, shall you find the answer," he said, tracing his journey of musical discovery.
That search led him to Faheem, whose raw, haunting voice now defines Saiyaara's sonic identity. 'I'm sick that way," Suri laughed, self-deprecatingly. 'I'm constantly looking for new voices. I thought Faheem was the voice I wanted for Ahaan. You need to keep searching because that's what keeps you relevant. Otherwise, you're just living off yesterday's success."
Suri also reflected on the courage it takes to back fresh talent in an industry that thrives on star power. 'Even when I was talking to Akshaye [Widhani, YRF CEO], I said, you have to give yourself room to fail. Failing with someone established is far scarier — it means your fundamentals have changed. But failing with someone new? That's not that bad. At least you tried something different." To which Widhani added, 'Even the success you get with someone new is so much more."
That success, in Saiyaara's case, has been massive. The film has raked in nearly ₹300 crore at the box office — and remarkably, without the usual bells and whistles of a heavy promotional campaign. No influencer tie-ups, no pre-release interviews, no media blitz. Debutants Ahaan and Aneet remained under the radar right up to the theatrical release.
This stealth marketing, Suri revealed, was a conscious choice made in consultation with Widhani and YRF head Aditya Chopra. 'Until the two actors don't have anything behind them to talk about, the conversation will be filled with questions like 'Who is the prankster on set?' or 'How is it working with Mohit Suri?' It's all redundant stuff," he told Just Too Filmy.
With Saiyaara, Suri hasn't just delivered a hit — he's rewritten the rulebook for both casting and campaigning. And at its heart lies a voice that was unknown until a few months ago — but now, it's impossible to forget.
First Published:
August 03, 2025, 14:05 IST
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