Filmmaker Mohit Suri, who won hearts with the musical blockbuster Aashiqui 2 (2013), has confirmed that he will not be returning to direct the much-anticipated third installment, Aashiqui 3. In an interview with Filmygyan, Suri made it clear that he has not been approached by producers, and it may not happen anytime soon.
In This Article:
- “They Don’t Want to Employ Me”
- Creative Pressure Looms Large
- The Saiyaara Connection
- Background: What Made Aashiqui 2 So Special
- What’s Next for the Aashiqui Brand?
“They Don’t Want to Employ Me”
When asked whether he would be at the helm of Aashiqui 3, Suri said, “I think you need to ask the producers. They don’t want to employ me.” Despite his eagerness to once again collaborate with Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, his famed leads from Aashiqui 2, he felt shut out because of industry decisions.
Creative Pressure Looms Large
Suri emphasised the immense challenge of matching or exceeding the success of Aashiqui 2. “’Aashiqui ka burden mere sir pe gir raha hai (The burden of ‘Aashiqui’ has fallen on my shoulders). I need to find a script that is better than it. It is difficult,” he revealed. The 2013 romance became iconic not only for its tear-jerking storyline starring Kapur and Kapoor but also due to its unforgettable music and off-screen chemistry that remains etched in pop-culture memory.
The Saiyaara Connection
Interestingly, Suri disclosed that his upcoming film Saiyaara, set to release on 18 July 2025, was originally intended to be Aashiqui 3. The script was slated to carry forward the franchise with new leads but eventually evolved into an independent Yash Raj Films production, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Suri admitted that there was a phase when Mahesh Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar showed interest in bridging creative ties with Aashiqui 3, but conflicting timelines and pressures led to a pivot.
Saiyaara: The New Love Story in Town
Currently, all focus is on promoting Saiyaara, a romantic-musical drama featuring the debut pairing of aspiring singer Krish (Ahaan Panday) and songwriter Aneet Padda. Composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami, the film’s trailer has already earned praise from none other than Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur.
Background: What Made Aashiqui 2 So Special
Directed by Suri and released in April 2013, Aashiqui 2 was a spiritual successor to the 1990 original. Produced under the Vishesh Films–T-Series banner by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, it featured a tense romance between a troubled singer and his hopeful protege, layered with themes of addiction and sacrifice. The film became a box-office juggernaut and scored a cult following, particularly with its haunting soundtrack composed by Jeet Gannguli, Mithoon, and Ankit Tiwari, earning praise for both performances and music.
What’s Next for the Aashiqui Brand?
While T-Series and Vishesh Films are reportedly keen on moving forward, Anurag Basu is already developing a romantic project starring Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela; they face legal and creative hurdles before officially using the Aashiqui name. Whether Suri had future involvement in mind, it appears industry strategy, creative expectations, and the inability to secure a suitably powerful script all influenced his exit.
By – Sonali