Director Mohit Suri, known for his emotionally resonant films, recently revealed the surprising inspiration behind his latest romantic drama, Saiyaara, which was released on July 18, 2025. While many of his previous works have drawn inspiration from Korean cinema, Suri shared that a Netflix docuseries played a pivotal role in shaping Saiyaara.
After directing back-to-back thrillers, Suri felt creatively disconnected with the growing trend of action-packed spectacles in Bollywood. "I was a bit lost," he admitted. "After making two thrillers in a row, I saw that—without disrespect—everyone was blowing up buildings, flying helicopters… everyone was doing the same thing". This introspection led him to The Romantics, a docuseries that explores the legacy of Yash Chopra and the evolution of romantic cinema in India.
The Romantics proved to be a turning point for Suri. "Surprisingly, while I was writing something else, I came across The Romantics," he shared. "It was a brilliant series, and it reminded me of how the romantic hero was born in Hindi cinema. That's what reignited my interest". Spurred by this inspiration, Suri decided to pivot back to the romance genre. "The Romantics reminded me of the era of Bollywood when the romantic hero was born".
Suri then told his assistant, who also co-writes with him, that they should write a romantic film. "At that point, there was no producer, just the idea. And that idea became Saiyaara," he said. Saiyaara stars debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda as a singer-songwriter duo who fall in love.
In addition to The Romantics, Saiyaara is also loosely based on the 2004 Korean film A Moment to Remember. However, Suri has not confirmed this, though certain scenes and emotional beats appear remarkably similar. The original Korean film tells the story of a couple grappling with early-onset Alzheimer's, a theme that seems to resonate in Saiyaara.
Adding another layer to the inspiration behind Saiyaara, Suri revealed that the character of Krish Kapoor, played by Ahaan Panday, was inspired by cricket legend Virat Kohli. Suri opened up about meeting Kohli and how he went on to inspire the character of his movie.
Saiyaara marks a departure from Suri's recent thrillers and a return to the genre that launched his career. The film's music is composed by Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, Sachet-Parampara, Rishabh Kant, Vishal Mishra, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami.
The film has received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Panday and Padda's performances, Suri's direction, and its soundtrack. Rishil Jogani of Pinkvilla wrote, "Saiyaara is a beautifully crafted romantic drama that triumphs through its stellar performances, enchanting music, and Mohit Suri's masterful direction". Rishabh Suri of the Hindustan Times wrote, "Overall, Saiyaara may not break new ground in terms of storytelling, but it strikes the right emotional chords. It's a film that understands its audience and delivers with sincerity".
Saiyaara has been a commercial success, grossing over ₹5.79 billion (US$68 million) worldwide, emerging as the second highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025, and the highest-grossing Indian romantic film of all time.
