Actor Emraan Hashmi recently revealed why he had turned down the role of Rahul Jaykar in the 2013 romantic drama Aashiqui 2, a film that later became a massive hit. The role was eventually played by Aditya Roy Kapur, and it helped launch his and Shraddha Kapoor’s careers. But what many don’t know is that Emraan Hashmi was the first choice for that role.
Emraan Hashmi Rejected Aashiqui 2, Praises Saiyaara
In an interview, Emraan explained that he didn’t think he was the right fit. “Aashiqui is a film franchise that works best with fresh faces,” he said. “Like the original movie with Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal, it needed actors who had no strong public image. I already had an image in the industry, so I thought new faces would connect better with the audience.” He also said he has no regrets about turning it down, as the film did well for the right reasons.
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The topic came up again as people began comparing Aashiqui 2 to Mohit Suri’s latest hit, Saiyaara. Directed by the same filmmaker, Saiyaara tells a heartfelt story of love and loss, just like Aashiqui 2. It features debutants Ahaan Panday as a struggling singer and Aneet Padda as a writer battling early-onset Alzheimer’s.
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Despite being newcomers, Ahaan and Aneet have received huge praise for their emotional performances. The film has already made over ₹100 crore in just four days and has become one of the biggest hits of 2025. Many fans are calling it this generation’s Aashiqui 2.
Even Shraddha Kapoor, the lead actress from Aashiqui 2, shared her love for Saiyaara on social media, saying she had “fallen in love with Saiyaara”.
So, while Emraan Hashmi may have said no to a big film back then, his decision helped make space for fresh talent. And now, once again, Mohit Suri has proven that powerful storytelling with new faces can touch hearts and create box office magic.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
