EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Suri BREAKS silence on Saiyaara’s EXTRAORDINARY advance: “I have NO idea about bookings and I DON’T even want to know!”; opens up on Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s unexpected praise: “NEVER seen such support from the industry; Alia Bhatt messaged, Anil Kapoor called…” : Bollywood News

Mohit Suri’s debut flick Zeher was released on March 25, 2005. Hence, 2025 is special as this is his 20th year as a director. It has become all the more special as his romantic saga, Saiyaara, is all set to be released tomorrow, July 18. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Mohit Suri on Wednesday, July 16, about the film, its remarkable advance ticket sales and a lot more.

EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Suri BREAKS silence on Saiyaara’s EXTRAORDINARY advance: “I have NO idea about bookings and I DON’T even want to know!”; opens up on Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s unexpected praise: “NEVER seen such support from the industry; Alia Bhatt messaged, Anil Kapoor called…”

We all knew that Saiyaara would have a healthy opening, but the way it’s trending is unexpected. Has it come as a pleasant surprise to you?
I have no idea about the bookings and I don’t even want to know! I have been sitting and promoting this film all along. We have also consciously not taken the kids (Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda) out to promote the film. Hence, I have been promoting the film all day. Alia Bhatt, however, sent me a message. What I am really impressed by is that I have never seen such kind of support from the industry. Normally, when films do well, other people are not very happy! But this is the first time I have noticed a certain kind of support, as evident by the kind of messages and calls I am getting from people who are not even connected to the film. Anil Thadani sir called up, Anil Kapoor sir called up. A friend who was the ex-CEO of Sony Music remarked that the music is doing well. Bosco of Bosco-Caesar, who has not even done the songs of this film, sent his lovely feedback. Everybody is happy that this film, starring newcomers, is getting such attention and it makes me very glad.

Talking of industry, Sandeep Reddy Vanga also tweeted about Saiyaara; it’s very rare for him to do so…
I have never met him or spoken to him. I did message him when I saw Animal (2023) because I really liked the film. He messaged me after watching the teaser and trailer of Saiyaara. And yes, he even tweeted about it. Most people praise you privately but they don’t do the same in the public domain. It just takes a person who is very secure in himself to praise another’s director’s art. It speaks volumes about him and his character. I am not very active on social media. I should have gone public to praise his film. But he went ahead and did that.

Witnessing a hindi heartland love story completely emphasizing on romance and drama.
Waiting to watch it on the first day.
Wishing the debutants all the very best 🙂
It’s purely Mohith suri’s Magic 🙂 @mohit11481 https://t.co/SlYo36Ec1h

— Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) July 9, 2025

This is your first collaboration with Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films. Did your paths even cross before coming on board for this film?
I had no contact with him at all. In the 20 years that I spent in the industry, I met every possible filmmaker except Adi sir probably because of the private life that he lives. I had seen him once or twice when he stopped to greet Mukesh ji (Mukesh Bhatt) while he was watching a film in a theatre. Two years ago, I was writing this newcomer love story. At that time, I was discouraged by a lot of people saying that nobody would make a romantic movie with debutants in the current environment. This was the perception post-COVID and I don’t blame them. After all, there was a certain kind of cinema which was doing well. OTT had also become prominent.

Nevertheless, I still wrote this film with my assistant, Sankalp Sadanah. Suddenly, we bumped into Sumana Ghosh, the creative executive producer of Saiyaara. She informed me that Adi sir and Akshaye (Akshaye Widhani) are looking for a love story. It was a long shot and I gave my script to them. That’s the first time I met Adi sir. I had no idea that he had seen all of my films, even the bad ones! It was a big fanboy moment for me.

What next? Do you have a three-film deal with YRF? They usually have that arrangement with filmmakers…
(Laughs) No, they don’t have any deal with me. Right now, I need to get Saiyaara out of the system and get back to writing. It’s taken a lot for me, as there are too many new people. It is the first film of Akshaye sir and Sumana Ghosh. My writer is a first-timer. The actors are new. Hence, once it is released, I’ll be in a better position to write something.

What will you do on Friday, July 18? Will you visit the cinema halls to check the reaction?
We have our cast and crew screening today (July 16), after which I am going to turn off my social media completely! I hope they won’t push me to promote the film anymore (laughs). I can’t go to the theatre. I wait for my producers’ call. I’ll wait for them to inform me how it is doing and what the reports are, because if anyone has seen and lived a film as much as you (the director), it’s the producer.

I am sure in the past, you must have gone to theatres to gauge how people are reacting to your film?
No. I can’t go to the cinemas and see people clapping and hooting. Actually, I want to be with my kids. My daughter is 10 years old. She understands what’s happening. So, I want to see her reaction to the film (smiles).

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mohit Suri recalls being told a film like Saiyaara wouldn’t work, credits his instincts for casting “non-profitable” stars in the past; says, “Studios look for stars, but this film was written for 24–25-year-olds”

More Pages: Saiyaara Box Office Collection

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