Varun Badola, who played Ahaan Panday's father in the film Saiyaara, has strongly criticized reports that he believes have misrepresented his comments regarding the film's promotional activities. The actor claims that his words have been misinterpreted and that there is a "malicious intent" to tarnish the film, which has been well-received by audiences.
Badola's clarification comes after an interview surfaced where he discussed the promotional strategies employed for Saiyaara. In the interview with Screen, Badola stated that the film's PR team might have "gone overboard" in creating an online frenzy. He referred to social media posts where people were seen breaking bangles and expressing extreme emotions, and he commented on the viral clips of fans with IV drips in theaters. Badola said, "Log jo chudiyaan tod rahe hai, chaatiyaan peet rahe hai (People were breaking their bangles, beating their chest). I think the promotions team went a little overboard there, where people are going to see the film, putting IV drips". He also added, "Those people must have been told to give content in some way; thank God, people didn't get their legs broken and went crawling to see the film".
These remarks were interpreted by some as criticism of the film's marketing strategy, while others saw them as a commentary on the excesses of promotional gimmicks in general. Some people took his remarks as criticism of the film's marketing strategy.
Badola's statements also appeared to contradict the film's director, Mohit Suri, who had previously stated in a podcast that the overwhelming response to Saiyaara was entirely "organic". This difference in opinion fueled the buzz around Badola's interview.
In his clarification, posted on his Instagram account on August 7, 2025, Badola asserted that his words had been completely misinterpreted and misrepresented. He emphasized that his intention was not to denigrate the film, which has been receiving a lot of love from everyone.
Despite his reservations about the promotional tactics, Badola acknowledged that the film's success was not solely due to marketing. He clarified that Saiyaara has earned so much money at the box office because people have actually watched the film and loved it. He said that promotions are good only up to a certain level.
Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films, was released on July 18, 2025, and stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead roles. The film has reportedly crossed ₹500 crore globally, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2025.
The film follows Krish Kapoor, an aspiring musician played by Ahaan Panday, who falls in love with Vaani Batra, a songwriter healing from a recent heartbreak. Just as she's beginning to hope for a future with him, her Alzheimer's diagnosis puts their relationship to the ultimate test.
Varun Badola's recent statement highlights the ongoing debate about the extent to which film publicity should go to attract audiences, especially in the age of social media and viral marketing. While acknowledging the film's success, Badola's comments serve as a reminder that the core of a film's impact should come from its substance and storytelling.
