At the recent FICCI Frames event, filmmaker Mohit Suri opened up candidly about the success of Saiyaara and the deeply personal journey that led him to rediscover his creative voice after a turbulent phase in his career.
Speaking about the film’s positive reception, Suri said what made Saiyaara truly special was not just the box office numbers, but the freedom he was given to make the film his way. “After my previous film, which was a typical studio-driven project — a franchise, a big star cast, more action, ticking all the commercial boxes — it didn’t perform well at the box office,” he admitted. “Coming out of that, I realized I needed to make a film where my voice was actually heard.”
Suri revealed that when he pitched the script for Saiyaara, he was surprised by the support he received from the producers. “The amazing thing was, they didn’t pressure me to make a ‘successful’ film. All they said was — make your best film with us. Give us your best music. That was it. I have to thank Aditya Chopra and Akshay for taking that burden off me — the pressure of trying to make a so-called ‘blockbuster’. It allowed me to focus on making a film that would connect with people emotionally.”
While Saiyaara did end up performing well at the box office, Suri emphasized that the validation came more from the emotional resonance the film found with audiences. “Yes, I loved the collections. It just validates the whole thing. But for me, the most important part was making a film that touched people’s hearts. And I’m thankful they let me do it my way.”
On being asked if there’s a formula to making a hit film, Suri was clear:“No matter how much structure or formula you try to apply, you can never really predict success. Aashiqui 2 received an overwhelming amount of love — that kind of connection can’t be planned. I tried something similar in Hamari Adhuri Kahani, but it didn’t land the same way. What I’ve learned is, the only way to go forward is to approach each film like it’s your first. Just go to the crease and play — like it’s your debut match.”
With Saiyaara, Mohit Suri seems to have done just that — returned to the basics, trusted his instincts, and created a film that resonated beyond numbers. In an industry obsessed with formulas, perhaps the boldest move is to make something real.