Mohit Suri Says Ahaan Panday Nearly Lost Saiyaara Due To SRK Mimicry Video: 'He's Such A Wicked Guy'
Before Ahaan Panday made his much-talked-about Bollywood debut with Saiyaara, the internet had already formed its opinion. Old videos of the young actor mimicking Shah Rukh Khan and recreating iconic scenes from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Mohabbatein had gone viral, drawing widespread criticism and raising doubts about his potential as a serious actor.
Now, in a candid conversation with Radio Nasha, director Mohit Suri has revealed that Ahaan almost missed his shot at Saiyaara because of those very clips.
'Usne bhut pehle, industry main aane se pehle kuch kiya tha. Meri wife ne dekha tha aur unhe laga bhut endearing hai. Maine dekha nahi tha," Mohit said, addressing the now-infamous mimicry videos. ('He had done something a long time ago, before entering the industry. My wife had seen it and found it very endearing. I hadn't seen it.")
Mohit added that by the time he got involved in the project, Ahaan had already removed the videos. 'People were telling him, 'Do you want to do mimicry or become an actor?'" he shared. The casting process, according to the director, was more complex than expected. 'When I came on board, Adi sir told me, 'I have a guy who's perfect for you,' after reading the script, and he made me meet Ahaan. But Ahaan wasn't going to get the film because of the auditions he was giving at that time."
Even after meeting Ahaan in person, Mohit wasn't convinced. 'I met him, and even in his behaviour, I didn't see anything that matched the character in my film. He is a very sweet, nice boy, and I told Adi, 'He's nothing like what you're saying.'"
But things took a turn when Aditya Chopra made an unusual suggestion. 'Adi said, 'Do one thing — go to dinner with him and tell him he's not getting the role.' That night, I was with him till 3 am. By the end of the night, I saw my character in him," Mohit recalled.
Despite never having watched the SRK mimicry video, Mohit revealed that Ahaan finally sent them to him—but only after wrapping the shoot. 'He's such a wicked guy — after completing the film, he WhatsApped me all his terrible audition videos, saying, 'Look who you've cast'."
Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in lead roles. The film blends romance and music, with a powerful soundtrack from composers like Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Vishal Mishra, and Tanishk Bagchi. With strong word-of-mouth and growing social media buzz, the film is already shaping up to be a box-office winner.
First Published:
July 18, 2025, 19:58 IST
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