Despite the ongoing legal developments, the film continues to draw audiences, with its performances and storytelling driving its success. Whether the controversy impacts its theatrical run remains to be seen, but it has certainly brought attention to the importance of intellectual property rights in modern filmmaking.

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Writer Rohan Shankar recently shed light on his experience of working with filmmaker Mohit Suri on Saiyaara, particularly when it came to crafting dialogues that felt real and authentic.

During an exclusive conversation with Filmfare, Rohan told us, “One of the best things about Mohit Suri is that he will trust you. He had seen my work before. He knew what I could bring to the table. He trusts you and lets you flow. He gives you freedom and believes in your talent. He gives you respect. I could put my points across. He trusted me when I told him I believe in certain dialogues in the film.”

Highlighting the collaborative nature of the makers, Rohan shared how the film evolved from its initial idea to the final screenplay. “He (Mohit Suri) takes everyone along with him in the journey. So, I had listened to the idea from him. Then I had read the screenplay written by Sankalp Sadanah. The first thing I had told Mohit after reading the screenplay was that there is a lot of scope in the scenes. I had become very selfish. Honestly, I had never done a love story before. Also, there was much scope because there were only two very important characters in the movie. There were parents, friends and other good characters as well. But the scenes revolved mostly around the two main leads. The challenge was in making the love story feel different. But the process of doing so was quite enjoyable,” he revealed.

He further elaborated on how Suri’s experience in the genre guided the tone of the dialogues. “The director also had much. He has been making movies in this genre for 20 years. He knew what would work. He told me, ‘Don’t go filmy.’ The emotions were very real, so there was no need to go filmy. Saiyaara is like a conversation. So, I wrote it as a conversation,” the writer added.

Rohan also spoke about writing dialogues tailored for the film’s lead characters, played by Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday. He added, “Aneet’s character was a writer and a poet. So Aneet’s lines were a little poetic. Ahaan’s character was a smart guy, alongside being a musician and an artiste. So, I did what I could according to the character. I also knew the world a little better since it was an urban love story. There were two young people. Mohit Suri knew the world more than me. So, that is how we collaboratively got the job done.”

With Saiyaara, the team appears to have leaned into emotional honesty. They steered away from overtly dramatic tropes to create a relatable love story.

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Anurag Kashyap has always been known for his sharp eye for talent, and his latest praise for Mrunal Thakur suggests he has found a new muse. In a recent interaction, he shared his admiration for Mrunal, describing her as one of the most emotionally authentic performers in the Hindi film industry today. He mentioned that Mrunal possesses a unique quality that sets her apart from her contemporaries. According to him, her greatest strength lies in her ability to communicate through her eyes rather than relying only on conventional acting techniques. He told India Today, “She really underestimates herself. She has no idea how good an actor she is. She’s a very good actor.”

Anurag further explained the distinction between her style and that of other actors. He said, “Actors, you know; they act with their hands, with their eyes, with all of that. But she feels things, and they translate through her eyes. If you see any random image of her from any film, generally, you know exactly what she’s feeling; it’s all there in her eyes. That connection with self, very few actors have.”

While Anurag showered her with praise for her current work, he also hinted that he wants to push her boundaries. He revealed that he is planning a future project that will see Mrunal in a completely different light, one that breaks away from her typically poised on-screen image. He teased, “I have something crazy in mind for her. She’s been wanting to let loose and abuse in a film for a while now, so whoever she wants to abuse, she can do it in my film.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see the duo together on screen, although in a different capacity. Both are part of the upcoming film Dacoit, which stars Adivi Sesh and Anurag in a key role. Directed by Shaniel Deo, the film is scheduled for release on April 10. After that, his next directorial venture, Bandar, starring Bobby Deol, is set to hit theatres on May 22.

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