Anupam Kher / 'Saiyaara' wiped out the film, incurring huge losses, Anupam Kher went into depression, said this

Saiyaara Movie: The film Sayara, directed by Mohit Suri, has emerged as one of the most talked-about and successful films of the year. Starring Ahaan Panday and Aniit Padda, the film created a frenzy among audiences as soon as it hit theatres. Everywhere, people were only talking about Sayara. Its popularity was so immense that several films released around the same time were completely overshadowed at the box office. Among them was Tanvi: The Great, directed by Anupam Kher, which failed to reach audiences in the storm of Sayara. This failure deeply affected Kher, and he has now spoken openly about it.

The Failure of Tanvi: The Great Brought Pain

In an exclusive conversation with Screen, Anupam Kher candidly discussed his film Tanvi: The Great. Expressing his disappointment over its failure, he said:

“I worked on this film for four years—one year writing the script, another year on the music. I wrote and directed the film. But we released it on the same day as Yash Raj Films’ Sayara. As a result, our film was completely wiped out. It left me very disappointed and sad—not just for myself, but also for the new actors I had chosen from my acting school. Nearly 200 people worked on this film.”

Had to Seek Financial Help from a Friend

Kher further revealed that Sayara’s massive success caused severe losses for his film, forcing him to seek financial help. He said:

“Just a month before the release, our financier backed out. It was an expensive film. I called a friend, who is a doctor and lawyer, and he gave me financial support. We premiered the film at the Cannes Film Festival. In New York, Robert De Niro watched the first half and liked it. We even screened it for the President of India.”

“Audiences Wanted a Love Story”

Continuing, Kher explained that the audience’s demand for a love story was what worked in Sayara’s favor. He said:

“Everything was going well, but people wanted a love story—and rightly so. A young, teenage romance hadn’t come out in a long time. The system here is such that even if you release your film in 400 theatres, if another film is performing brilliantly, they will replace yours. That’s why this failure was especially painful for me.”

Surprised by Sayara’s Success

Kher admitted that even he was surprised by the overwhelming success of Sayara. He said:

“Sayara’s success even shocked Aditya Chopra. Everyone was surprised by how well it did. But it’s okay—thankfully, Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra are like family to me. I grew up in cinema alongside them. If it had been someone else, it would have been even more painful for me.”