Saiyaara released yesterday, July 18, 2025. Directed by Mohit Suri of Aashiqui 2 fame, the new release stars debutantes Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead roles. Saiyaara has taken a blockbuster start on day one with 20 crore net plus day one.
But, alongside the praise, a growing buzz online has netizens questioning if the film is an adaptation of the 2004 Korean hit A Moment to Remember.
Striking Similarities
A Moment to Remember directed by John H. Lee, is a celebrated Korean romantic drama that tells the story of a young couple whose relationship is put to the test when the woman is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Saiyaara shares several key similarities with the Korean film A Moment to Remember, especially in its emotional arc. Both stories follow a young couple who fall in love, only for the girl to be diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s shortly after their relationship begins and they begin to build a life together. In both films, this diagnosis shifts the tone from romance to emotional struggle. The memory trigger locations also resemble each other – cricket grounds and coaching sessions in Saiyaara mirror the convenience store in the Korean film, serving as a reminder of where their story began.
As the illness progresses, the girl in Saiyaara, like in the Korean film, chooses to admit herself into a care facility to avoid burdening her partner. Toward the end, both films recreate their first meeting, the Korean film stages it at a convenience store where they first met, while Saiyaara revisits the cricket field. Both close on a touching note, with the girl finally saying “I love you Krish Kapoor,” in Saiyaara echoing the emotional payoff of the Korean film’s final car ride scene where he says “I love you”.
The film has become a classic, inspiring several unofficial adaptations around the world. Saiyaara, also a romantic drama, follows the love story of Krish, an aspiring musician, and Vaani. Their blossoming romance takes a heartbreaking turn when Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, threatening to upend their future.
The film’s story was reportedly credited to Sankalp Sadanah and Mohit Suri.
Mohit Suri’s History Of ‘Unofficial’ Remakes
Mohit Suri has been accused making ‘unoffocial’ remakes of Korean films in past too. His 2011 blockbuster Murder 2 was an uncredited remake of the 2008 South Korean film The Chaser.
Mohit Suri’s 2007 acclaimed big box office flop film Awarapan was an uncredited remake of the South Korean film A Bittersweet Life.
Mohit Suri’s 2014 Super Hit Hindi movie Ek Villain is widely reported to be inspired by the 2010 Korean film I Saw the Devil. While the director, Mohit Suri stated that he was inspired by the Korean film but the stories are not the same, the similarities between the two films, particularly in the revenge plot and certain critical scenes.
Mohit Suri’s earlier film Zeher was again unofficial adaptation of the 2003 American film Out Of Time.
(Also read: Saiyaara Box Office Trends Day 1: Ahaan Panday And Aneet Padda Starrer YRF’s Mohit Suri Film Set To Cross 23 Crore On Day One, BLOCKBUSTER On Day One Itself)
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