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Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, which introduced Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, emerged as one of the year’s most surprising box-office triumphs. While audiences were drawn in by its gripping narrative, heartfelt emotions, and soul-stirring music, the on-screen chemistry between Ahaan and Aneet became an equally big talking point. Interestingly, that magical pairing almost seemed destined- because Ahaan had secretly prayed for Aneet to bag the role of Vaani.
Aneet’s Heartwarming Revelation
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aneet Padda shared a little-known story from her audition days. She recalled how Ahaan took her to Mount Mary Church in Mumbai before her screen test.
Aneet revealed, "When I was auditioning for Saiyaara, Ahaan had taken me to Mount Mary Church and we’d lit a candle and sat in the car. I asked him, ‘What did you wish for?’ He looked at me and asked, ‘What did you wish for?’ A week later, I got the call that I’d gotten the role, and he said, ‘Of course, I’d wished that you’d get the role!’"
Journey Fuelled by Passion
Opening up further, Aneet revealed her struggles while pursuing acting.
“I always wanted to act. I would be recording auditions and locking my door, telling my parents I was doing homework… I knew I’d have to do this on my own because my parents didn’t have enough money to take me to Mumbai to audition," she added.
Mohit Suri on Their Crackling Chemistry
Director Mohit Suri, who is known for creating memorable screen romances, credits the film’s emotional connect to the authenticity Ahaan and Aneet brought to their roles.
Earlier, while speaking to Zoom, Mohit said, “I would give credit to them for their chemistry. We did workshops. Somewhere, while directing them, I realised that I can’t force my vision. When I met Ahaan and Aneet, I realised that I had to go into their world, since I was 20 years older than them. The chemistry came out of them."
Saiyaara’s Box-Office Miracle
Despite releasing alongside big-ticket films like Anupam Kher’s Tanvi: The Great, Sonakshi Sinha’s Nikita Roy, Mahavatar Narsimha, Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2, and Triptii Dimri–Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Dhadak 2, Saiyaara held its ground remarkably well. Positive word-of-mouth and a wave of audience support turned it into a sleeper hit, proving that fresh faces with an honest story can still win big at the box office.
