Saiyaara's 425 Cr Success: Ahaan Pandey Rose from Humiliation to Stardom After His ₹400 Cr Debut Was Shelved

They say timing is everything—and Ahaan Pandey's journey proves it. Today, he's basking in the glory of Saiyaara, a romantic blockbuster that's touching hearts and minting money at the box office. But a few years ago, his career faced a major setback—one that could have broken many.

When Pride Turned to Disappointment

Director Mohit Suri recently opened up about the untold struggles of Ahaan Pandey, despite his film lineage. Ahaan was set to make a grand debut with a ₹400 crore YRF film before the pandemic hit. “He was proud and excited about the film,” said Mohit, “telling people confidently about it. But then, Covid changed everything. The idea of the film was scrapped, and Ahaan was left devastated.”

YRF’s Faith Couldn’t Stop the Fall

Ahaan had been preparing for years with acting workshops under the YRF banner. But after Covid-19, with the cinema landscape changed, the studio dropped the massive launch plan. “He was crushed,” Mohit added. “People started taunting him—‘Weren’t you the one YRF was going to launch?’”

Aditya Chopra’s Support, Ahaan’s Patience

Despite the shelved debut, Aditya Chopra stood by Ahaan, telling him he was free to explore other banners—but Ahaan stayed loyal to YRF. Mohit Suri recalled, “He waited. He didn’t rush. And it paid off. If he had debuted five years ago, he would’ve looked too young on screen. We spent months maturing him as an actor.”

From Rejection to Roaring Success

Today, Saiyaara is not only a hit but an emotional rollercoaster for audiences. Viewers have been seen crying outside theatres. The film has earned ₹280 crore in India and is expected to cross ₹300 crore by the weekend. Its global collection has already exceeded ₹425 crore.

Ahaan Pandey’s story is a reminder that patience, perseverance, and self-belief can turn the tides—even in an industry as unpredictable as Bollywood.