Why the Lead Pair of ‘Saiyaara’ Didn’t Promote the Film: Director Mohit Suri Explains

Mohit Suri’s latest romantic drama Saiyaara made its theatrical debut without much noise from its lead actors, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The absence of a traditional pre-release promotional campaign raised eyebrows, especially in an industry where aggressive marketing is the norm. Now, Suri has finally addressed why the young stars stayed away from the spotlight ahead of the film’s release.

No Promotions Before Release: A Strategic Call

According to Suri, the decision was deliberate. He explained that he wanted the audience to discover the characters without any preconceived notions about the actors behind them. The goal, he said, was to preserve a sense of mystery and emotional connection when viewers saw them on screen for the first time.

This approach is rare in Bollywood, where trailers, talk shows, social media reels, and city tours usually flood the timeline weeks before release.

Introducing Fresh Faces Without Hype

Both Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda are newcomers. Suri believed that pushing them heavily in the media before the film could work against their performances. “I didn’t want the audience to see Ahaan or Aneet—I wanted them to see Amar and Meera,” he explained.

This strategy banks on organic word-of-mouth, letting the film speak for itself. While it may come with some box office risk, Suri seemed confident in the content and storytelling to carry the film.

Audience Reactions from Smaller Cities

In cities like Indore, Nagpur, and Bhopal, where audiences often look beyond big names and are drawn to emotional storytelling, Saiyaara found a decent early response. Viewers unfamiliar with the lead actors seemed to connect with the story without the distraction of off-screen buzz.

This model could appeal more in Tier 2 regions, where cinematic experience is still deeply tied to narrative, not just star power.

What This Means for Future Debuts

Suri’s experiment challenges the conventional idea that a film’s fate is sealed by its marketing campaign. It brings back an older belief in Bollywood—that the story and characters should lead, not just the actors’ PR circuits.

However, this strategy may not suit every film or actor. It works only when there’s strong direction, emotional depth, and trust in the audience’s instinct to discover.

Bottom Line

By choosing silence over spectacle, Saiyaara tried something different. Whether it becomes a trend or stays an exception depends on how the film performs in the coming weeks. But one thing’s clear: not every debut needs a loud launch, and sometimes, letting the film breathe on its own might just work.