'I overheard him' - Saiyaara Director reveals how Virat Kohli inspired Ahaan Panday's character
"I remember him once saying, 'You see, I'm going to be the biggest cricketer', overheard him saying it to some people," said Suri.
Bollywood director Mohit Suri recently revealed that his latest film, Saiyaara, features a heartfelt tribute to former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. The film’s protagonist, Kirish Kapoor, portrayed by debutant Ahaan Panday, was inspired by a real-life encounter Suri had with Kohli during the early days of the cricketer's career.
Suri recalled spotting a young Kohli at a nightclub years ago, long before he became a global icon. The director shared that he had overheard the young batter declaring with conviction that he would one day become the biggest name in world cricket.
"I remember seeing Virat Kohli once when he was like a newcomer in a nightclub, I think. And I remember him once saying, 'You see, I'm going to be the biggest cricketer', overheard him saying it to some people. And he was a newcomer that time," said Suri on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra.
"He's younger than me, so I've seen that and he's had his ups, and the glorious career that he's had. But he's had his downs also. And then he comes back after over a thousand days and scores a century again," he added.
How Kohli became the biggest brand of cricket?
Suri also hailed the former Indian captain as a legend and stated that he is a big fan of the star batter. He expressed his admiration for the cricketer and further elaborated on how he used the cricketer’s analogy during the making of Saiyaara.
"He truly is a legend and you'll have people who make scores and break records but if you want to be remembered forever, you have to live the life that Virat lived. That was the best example to give. He's done it his way. He's given to cricket," Suri stated.
"So I just wanted this analogy to make music, not by just making a hit, not just scoring a century, but by giving something back to music like how Virat has. So, all power to him man. I'm a Virat Kohli fan," he added.
Meanwhile, Kohli was last seen in action during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was the highest run-scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their first-ever title-winning campaign.
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