Mohit Suri’s much-anticipated film Saiyaara, starring debutant Ahaan Panday, has finally hit the screens, but not without controversy. Even as audiences began pouring in to witness the emotional rollercoaster of love and loss, a storm was quietly brewing online. Social media users and film enthusiasts were quick to point out uncanny similarities between Saiyaara and the 2011 Korean drama Always (also remade as Do Lafzon Ki Kahani in Hindi in 2016). This has sparked a heated debate — is Saiyaara just another “inspired” Bollywood remake?
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Reddit threads, X (formerly Twitter) debates, and Instagram reels have all been flooded with side-by-side scene comparisons. From the brooding male lead with a violent past to the blind female protagonist who teaches him redemption through love — the narrative parallels are hard to ignore. The internet is buzzing with clips that suggest not just thematic similarities but near-identical emotional beats and visuals.
This isn’t the first time Mohit Suri has been accused of borrowing heavily from Korean or international cinema. Films like Murder 2 and Ek Villain have also raised eyebrows in the past for their resemblance to foreign films. Yet, Suri has never publicly acknowledged such inspirations, preferring to frame his work as “emotionally universal.”
While the makers of Saiyaara have yet to address the accusations, cinephiles and critics are divided. Some argue that the film adds a fresh Bollywood flair, powerful music, and deeper emotional layering, making it a standalone piece. Others call it a textbook case of creative plagiarism with nothing new to offer.
Whether homage or imitation, Saiyaara is undeniably stirring up conversation — but perhaps not in the way Mohit Suri intended. As the box office numbers roll in, the bigger question remains: where should Bollywood draw the line between inspiration and duplication?