Before Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday’s ‘larger-than-life’ debut project was cancelled by YRF: 'His pride and ‘guroor’ was killed'

Ahaan Panday became an overnight sensation after the blockbuster success of his sensational debut movie, Saiyaara, which has crossed the Rs 400 crore mark at the global box office.

However, not Saiyaara but Ahaan was supposed to be launched by YRF with a ‘larger-than-life’ project, but Aditya Chopra pulled the plug as it was not feasible with the market scenario.

Panday, who was groomed by YRF for half a decade, was left embarrassed as he had told everyone that YRF would launch him. Even Aditya Chopra told him that he can look for work somewhere else, but he stuck with the production house.

“They could easily make a web series on the making of Saiyaara; all of us have had our journeys with the film,” director Mohit Suri told Komal Nahta.

“Ahaad had actually been workshopping with YRF for seven years. He was supposed to do a larger-than-life film before the pandemic. But the project was cancelled, because, as you know, the industry changed. Overnight, his pride and ‘guroor’ was killed. The same kid who was going around telling everyone that he would be launched by YRF was heartbroken. People started saying to him, ‘You were bragging about being launched by YRF, what now?’” Suri continued.

Mohit revealed that YRF head honcho Aditya Chopra even told the actor that he was free to look for work elsewhere. “I know that Adi sir called him after the pandemic, and told him that his faith in his talent hasn’t decreased even one bit, but that he could start looking for opportunities outside the studio if he wanted to. ‘You don’t need to hang on here, you can look for work elsewhere’, he was told. But the kid was adamant that he could only be launched by YRF, and it worked,” shared Mohit.

Backed by YRF, Saiyaara also features Aneet Padda in a lead role.