Is Ahaan-Aneet's Saiyaara Copied From A Short Film? Filmmaker Amit Jadhav's Makes Fresh Allegations

Filmmaker and singer Amit Jadhav has accused Mohit Suri’s 2025 hit Saiyaara of copying his 2019 short film Khwaabon. Jadhav has alleged plagiarism, claimed earlier contact with the production team, and spoken about his mental health struggles after the film’s release.

Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2025. The romantic drama introduced Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in leading roles, and the film’s strong box-office run turned both newcomers into widely recognised faces across the country.

Saiyaara vs Khwaabon Plagiarism Dispute

At the centre of Saiyaara is a love story between a dedicated musician and a woman deeply in love. Their life changes when she is diagnosed with a memory loss condition. She disappears without warning, and the musician eventually tracks her down, using a song as an emotional link.

Amit Jadhav’s short film Khwaabon released in 2019 on a public platform. Jadhav has alleged that Saiyaara shares many story beats, and has also noted that reports online had already linked Saiyaara’s plot to the 2004 Korean drama A Moment To Remember.

Jadhav is a singer, actor and filmmaker who has been trying to expand Khwaabon into a full-length feature. In an interview with HT City, Jadhav said he had attempted to raise concerns earlier, but struggled to get a clear response from the team behind Saiyaara.

According to Jadhav, YRF Talent contacted him through an Instagram direct message in 2021, saying they wished to connect. When Jadhav asked for details of the possible project, the conversation stalled. He alleged that no further explanation was offered and the communication ended without clarity.

Saiyaara vs Khwaabon: Amit Jadhav’s Reaction After Watching Ahaan's Film

Jadhav recalled that he became aware of the similarities only after the theatrical release of Saiyaara in 2025. He said friends who watched the film immediately recognised elements they had seen in Khwaabon and urged Jadhav to compare both stories himself.

Describing that moment, Jadhav said, "A week after Saiyaara's release, my friends called me and said, 'Tera toh story same tha.' I was shocked." Jadhav added that friends warned him that the makers would probably not respond if he tried to complain.

Saiyaara vs Khwaabon Timeline Details

Key details from Jadhav’s allegations and the Saiyaara vs Khwaabon dispute can be seen below.

Jadhav stated that he had begun developing a full script based on Khwaabon once producers showed interest. The arrival of Saiyaara in cinemas, with a similar storyline already in the public eye, left Jadhav feeling that his plans for a feature film had collapsed.

Because Khwaabon was already online as a short film, Jadhav said he could not register the same story as a fresh script. He claimed to have emailed YRF twice about the matter but received no reply. The lack of response, Jadhav said, deepened his sense of helplessness.

Speaking about the pressure he felt, Jadhav said he slipped into depression while struggling to move forward with his career. Jadhav described an incident where despair almost pushed him to end his life, saying his family intervened just in time.

Jadhav said, "I was sloshed; my parents saw, and that's how I got saved. I felt like the world doesn't want me to succeed. I was not called for any auditions." Jadhav linked these feelings directly to the stalled progress of his project and the release of Saiyaara.

Is Saiyaara An Adaptation Of Korean Film?

Online discussions have also compared Saiyaara’s storyline with the 2004 Korean film A Moment To Remember, which features memory loss as a central plot point. Jadhav said Saiyaara bears strong resemblance both to that international film and to his own musical short.

Jadhav has said that credit for story elements would be an acceptable form of acknowledgement, as Khwaabon remains important to personal and professional identity. So far, neither Mohit Suri nor production company YRF has issued any official statement about the allegations.

Saiyaara remains best known for the debut of Ahaan Panday and for turning Aneet Padda into a familiar name among film audiences. While the plagiarism dispute around Saiyaara vs Khwaabon continues without a formal response, Jadhav’s claims and experiences have drawn attention to the challenges smaller filmmakers face when their ideas appear in large-scale films.