‘Saiyaara’ director Mohit Suri recalls seeing ‘newcomer’ Virat Kohli at a nightclub; explains how it influenced Ahaan Panday’s role |

Filmmaker Mohit Suri‘s latest musical romantic drama, ‘Saiyaara,’ has captivated audiences with its emotional story, soulful music, and the fresh chemistry of newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Several scenes and dialogues from the film have quickly gone viral on social media. One scene in particular, where Ahaan’s character, Krish Kapoor, takes Aneet’s character, Vaani, to a cricket ground and pays a heartfelt tribute to cricket legend Virat Kohli, has especially resonated with viewers. But what was the inspiration behind this memorable moment?

Here’s a closer look at the Virat Kohli connect

Mohit Suri delves into the backstory of Ahaan Panday’s character

In an interview with Sonal Kalra on The Right Angle, director Mohit Suri revealed the inspiration behind the Virat Kohli reference in his film Saiyaara. He recalled an encounter with a young, newcomer, Virat Kohli at a nightclub. According to Suri, he overheard Kohli confidently declare, “I’m going to be the biggest cricketer.” Suri explained that this memory, combined with Kohli’s incredible career trajectory, including his struggles and triumphant return to form after a long gap—is what inspired the powerful cricket-themed scene in the movie. “I remember seeing Virat Kohli once when he was like a newcomer in a nightclub,” the director revealed. “And I remember him once saying, ‘You see, I’m going to be the biggest cricketer.’ I overheard him saying it to some people. And he was a newcomer at that time. He’s younger than me, so I’ve seen that, and he’s had his ups and the glorious career that he’s had. But he’s had his downs also. And then he comes back after over a thousand days and scores a century again.” Suri continued by explaining why he chose Kohli as a symbol for Ahaan’s character. Mohit continued, “He truly is a legend, and you’ll have people who make scores and break records, but if you want to be remembered forever, you have to live the life that Virat lived. That was the best example to give. He’s done it his way. He’s given to cricket. So I just wanted this analogy to make music, not by just making a hit, not just by scoring a century, but by giving something back to music like how Virat has.“The director concluded by expressing his admiration, saying, “So, all power to him, man. I’m a Virat Kohli fan.” This heartfelt tribute resonated deeply with audiences, making the scene a highlight of ‘Saiyaara’ and earning praise for the film’s creative team.