‘Amazing to see people are feeling Aashiqui nostalgia in Saiyaara!’ : Mahesh Bhatt

One of India’s most celebrated film-makers of all-time, Mahesh Bhatt feels happy that people are saying Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara has the nostalgia of his blockbuster romantic film Aashiqui!

Mahesh Bhatt’s Aashiqui launched Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal into overnight superstars as the film became a rage in our country for presenting a romantic story that was fresh, deep and ahead of its time. Even the music of Aashiqui was a blockbuster! Similarly, Saiyaara is the launchpad for Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda as the next YRF hero and heroine. The songs of Saiyaara are also chartbusters while Saiyaara title track is a monster hit!

Mahesh says, “Every generation has love story that defines it. Saiyaara, to me, will be the most definitive romantic film of this generation. When I made Aashiqui, I did it with a lot of purity and I was fortunate that people connected to it deeply and made the two newcomers into overnight stars. I expect Mohit Suri to do the same with Saiyaara.”

He adds, “It is amazing to see that people have the nostalgia of Aashiqui when they are seeing Saiyaara but I can tell you that Saiyaara will rewrite the rules of what a romantic film should be in today’s time and for today’s generation. Every new generation must surpass the earlier generation in everything, and I’m excited for Saiyaara to do the same. Mohit is my prodigy and I couldn’t be happier if he surpasses me in every way possible.”

Mahesh Bhatt feels Mohit Suri, shaped by him as a director, has truly come on his own with Saiyaara.

He says, “I’m proud to see Mohit come out of his mould for Saiyaara. It is refreshingly different from whatever he has made in his entire career and the film seems to have incredible depth of romance which Mohit has within him. I’m glad he has put it all out there for the world to see and embrace. Intensity is necessary for people to connect with the emotion of love and I’m very excited about Saiyaara.”

The veteran film-maker says he was always pushing Mohit to make a film with newcomers and he is glad that Mohit partnered with YRF for Saiyaara. He says, “I’m thrilled to see him take the plunge with Saiyaara with two really talented actors who are simply sparkling on the screen. I’m also very happy that he has a studio like YRF beside him and behind him for this project who have such a rich cinematic legacy.”

He adds, “Saiyaara is looking incredibly fresh, like a breath of fresh air that only happens with newcomers. The energy of Saiyaara is palpable and I have very high expectations from this film to soar. I can’t wait for the country to see it on July 18th!”

Saiyaara has become the hottest debutant film in the Hindi film industry after a long, long time. The much-anticipated intense romantic film, Saiyaara, brings together Yash Raj Films and Mohit Suri, both known for creating timeless love stories, for the first time!

Saiyaara has also delivered the best album of the year with all songs like Faheem-Arslan’s Saiyaara Title Track, Jubin Nautiyal’s Barbaad, Vishal Mishra’s Tum Ho Toh, Sachet-Parampara’s Humsafar and Arijit Singh & Mithoon’s Dhun making waves on the musical charts of India!

Produced by YRF’s CEO Akshaye Widhani, Saiyaara is set to release on July 18, 2025 in theatres worldwide.