Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara Was Originally Aashiqui 3 — Until It Wasn’t
How the romantic franchise film was reshaped into a standalone YRF drama with debutant leads
Mumbai, July 9: With the trailer now out and the July 18 release locked in, Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara has already reignited long-dormant conversations around India’s obsession with cinematic romance, legacies of music-driven storytelling, and the politics of Bollywood pedigree. But beneath the surface of the debutant-starring romantic drama lies an industry truth rarely acknowledged out loud — Saiyaara was once supposed to be Aashiqui 3.
From Aashiqui 3 To Saiyaara: A Quiet Rebrand
For months, whispers about Mohit Suri returning to helm the third instalment of the iconic Aashiqui franchise swirled online. Having directed 2013’s Aashiqui 2 — still revered for its melancholic melodies and brooding leads — expectations were sky-high. As it turns out, Suri did begin shaping a concept in that very universe. But things shifted.
As per a detailed report by ABP Live, Saiyaara began its creative life as Aashiqui 3. But time constraints and creative divergence eventually led the filmmaker to carve out a separate identity for the story. IndiaTimes confirms that Suri decided to repurpose the project independently, with full backing from Yash Raj Films.
“The essence remains — a love that hurts, heals, and haunts,” Suri said in a statement. “But it needed a name, a face, and a space of its own. Saiyaara is my ode to romance, not a franchise installment.”
Launchpad for Ahaan Panday, Shadow of Nepotism Looms
At the centre of the film is 27-year-old Ahaan Panday, making his acting debut. The son of businessman Chikki Panday and nephew of actor Chunky Panday, Ahaan has been under industry watch for years, thanks in part to his cousin Ananya Panday’s early Bollywood success.
Yet, Saiyaara could mark a rare breakout if early reactions are anything to go by. His co-star, Aneet Padda, also marks her debut, creating a fresh-faced lead pair unburdened by previous screen baggage.
According to IndiaTimes, Ahaan worked behind the scenes as an assistant director on projects like Mardaani 2 and Rock On 2, biding his time while undergoing years of prep at Yash Raj Films’ talent division.
But social media isn’t letting nepotism discourse slide so easily. Reddit and YouTube threads are flooded with debates about “nepo kids,” though a surprising chunk of viewers have lauded Ahaan’s intensity and Suri’s signature emotional tone in the trailer.
Romantic Pain in Technicolor: Trailer Stirs Rockstar Comparisons
The trailer for Saiyaara, released between July 8 and 9, showcases sweeping visuals, brooding montages, and heartbreak woven with melody — hallmarks of Suri’s directorial grammar. Music, long considered Suri’s creative forte, is front and centre.
Interestingly enough, viewers have drawn parallels between the trailer’s tone and Imtiaz Ali’s 2011 cult romance Rockstar. On Reddit, fans debated whether Saiyaara was paying homage or simply echoing Bollywood’s broader romantic idiom of tortured love and redemption.
The Yash Raj Films official site describes it as a “romantic drama for a new generation,” while Fandango lists it squarely in the emotionally rich, music-heavy genre space.
Aashiqui 3 Still in Play — Just Not Suri’s
While Saiyaara has stepped out of the Aashiqui franchise’s shadow, the brand itself marches on. The official Aashiqui 3 is now helmed by Anurag Basu and stars Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela, with a Diwali 2025 release date.
According to Wikipedia, this iteration will reportedly continue the series’ legacy of combining fresh musical scores with high-stakes emotional arcs. That said, it now carries none of Suri’s original fingerprints.
In that sense, the industry is watching a rare double-bill of sorts — two romantic dramas, each with roots in the same legacy, now competing in public memory and box office charts.
Mohit Suri’s Quiet Evolution — Or Strategic Retreat?
Mohit Suri, born in 1981 and a product of Mumbai’s gritty cinematic rise in the 2000s, has been no stranger to reinvention. With credits like Zeher, Murder 2, Ek Villain, and Malang, his reputation as the industry’s resident chronicler of damaged lovers remains intact.
But Saiyaara marks something else: a pivot toward mentorship, risk-taking, and perhaps even reinvention. By anchoring a major studio-backed romantic saga on two fresh faces, Suri may be gambling his directorial credibility to back a new generation — while simultaneously letting go of a franchise that helped make his name.
Industry Stakes and Audience Verdict
Saiyaara opens in theatres worldwide on July 18, and box office analysts are already eyeing its fate as a potential litmus test for romantic dramas in a post-pandemic, streaming-heavy Bollywood.
Whether the film redefines Ahaan Panday as more than just a familiar last name — or reignites the cultural relevance of slow-burn heartbreak in Hindi cinema — depends not just on numbers, but how deeply the audience still craves the pain of cinematic love.
For now, Saiyaara stands alone — a project born from one legacy, but hoping to birth another.
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Sneha Kashyap is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, specializing in the vibrant world of entertainment and contemporary lifestyle trends. A student at GGSIPU, Delhi, Sneha brings a fresh perspective and a keen eye for cultural narratives to her daily reporting. She is dedicated to exploring the latest in film, music, fashion, and social phenomena, offering readers insightful and engaging content.
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