Mumbai: Star kid Ahaan Panday made his Bollywood debut with ‘Saiyaara’, which was released in theatres on Friday.
However, Chunky Panday’s son and Ananya’s brother may not have got the film in the first place.
Director Mohit Suri revealed during a conversation with Radio Nasha that Ahaan nearly lost the film because of his viral mimicry videos, in which he tried recreating Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic movie scenes.
“Usne bahut pehle, industry main aane se pehle kuch kiya tha. Meri wife ne dekha tha aur unhe laga bahut endearing hai. Maine dekha nahi tha (He did something long ago, before entering the industry. My wife had seen it and found it very endearing. I didn’t see it),” Mohit said, referring to Ahaan’s mimicry videos which raised doubts over his potential as an actor.
“People were telling him, ‘Do you want to do mimicry or become an actor?’ When I came on board, Adi sir told me, ‘I have a guy who’s perfect for you’ after reading the script, and he made me meet Ahaan. But Ahaan wasn’t going to get the film because of the auditions he was giving at that time,” the director said, adding that Ahaan had removed the videos by that time.
Confessing that he wasn’t convinced about casting Ahaan, Mohit said, “I met him, and even in his behaviour, I didn’t see anything that matched the character in my film. He is a very sweet, nice boy, and I told Adi, ‘He’s nothing like what you’re saying’.”
However, Mohit’s opinion on Ahaan changed after Aditya Chopra intervened and suggested they go out for dinner together.
“Adi said, ‘Do one thing — go to dinner with him and tell him he’s not getting the role.’ That night, I was with him till 3 am. By the end of the night, I saw my character in him,” Mohit recalled.
Mohit further revealed that Ahaan had sent him the mimicry videos after wrapping up the film.
“He’s such a wicked guy — after completing the film, he WhatsApped me all his terrible audition videos, saying, ‘Look who you’ve cast’,” Mohit shared.
Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, ‘Saiyaara’ features Ahaan Panday and another newcomer Aneet Padda as the lead pair.
