Controversy Surrounds Hit Film Saiyaara Over Plagiarism Claims

The film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has become a box office sensation, but it now faces serious plagiarism allegations from filmmaker Amit Jadhav. Jadhav claims that Saiyaara closely resembles his short film Khwaabon, leading to a public dispute over originality. In addition to the plagiarism claims, Jadhav has opened up about his mental health struggles, revealing a dark period where he contemplated suicide due to the impact of the film's success on his own aspirations. This controversy raises important questions about creativity in the film industry and the pressures faced by emerging filmmakers. Read on to discover more about this unfolding drama.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 18:28 IST

Overview of Saiyaara's Success

The film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, achieved remarkable success at the box office in 2025, featuring newcomers Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda in leading roles. It has emerged as one of the top-grossing films of the year. However, the film is now facing allegations of plagiarism from filmmaker Amit Jadhav, who claims that Saiyaara bears striking similarities to his 2019 short film, Khwaabon. In a recent interview, Jadhav mentioned that he had previously discussed the story with the film's creators.

Allegations of Copying

Was Saiyaara Inspired by Khwaabon?

Amit Jadhav, who is also a singer and actor, asserts that there are numerous parallels between his short film and Saiyaara. He accused the filmmakers of stealing his narrative. In an interview with HT City, Jadhav revealed that he attempted to raise his concerns last year but received a direct message from YRF Talent on Instagram in 2021, indicating that the production house wanted to connect with him. However, when he inquired about a project, he received no response.

“After Saiyaara was released, my friends reached out to me, saying, 'Your story is the same.' I was taken aback,” Jadhav stated. Furthermore, when he attempted to contact the filmmakers, he was informed by his friends that they would not engage with him.

Mental Health Struggles

Amit Jadhav's Mental Health Crisis

In a shocking revelation, Jadhav discussed his mental health struggles, stating that he had been working to adapt his short film into a feature-length project. He fell into depression and even contemplated suicide at one point. Jadhav shared, “I was intoxicated; my parents intervened, which saved me. I felt as if the world was against my success. I was excluded from auditions.” He had begun developing a script after securing producers for his film, but the release of Saiyaara crushed his aspirations. He was unable to register his script since it was publicly available as a short film. Jadhav mentioned that he reached out to YRF twice but received no reply. He expressed a desire for recognition for his work. Notably, neither YRF nor Mohit Suri has issued any official comments regarding the situation. Returning to Saiyaara, the film marked Ahaan Panday's Bollywood debut, and both he and Aneet Padda became instant stars following its success.