Shaan Grover: Saiyaara's Villain on Stardom's Impact

One year after the release of "Saiyaara," actor Shaan R Grover, who portrayed the antagonist Mahesh Iyer, has opened up about the profound impact the film had on his career. He described the immediate shift in his life as "everything changing" on the Friday of the release, experiencing a mix of love and hate from the audience.

Grover admitted that it took him two to three months to fully digest the success and the widespread recognition. He then spent another two to three months engaging with industry professionals and pursuing new opportunities, leading into his current phase of continuous work. The actor expressed his happiness at working consistently since then.

Reflecting on "Saiyaara's" massive box office collection of ₹337 crores, Grover candidly stated that the team knew they had created something special. However, he expressed surprise at the film's immense scale of success, especially considering it did not feature any established superstars. He compared the director Mohit Suri's calm demeanor on set to MS Dhoni, highlighting Suri's ability to maintain composure and guide the actors.

He particularly credited Mohit Suri for his performance as Mahesh Iyer, stating that the director's guidance was crucial. Suri advised him to play the character charmingly and romantically, managing the negative aspects himself, which allowed Grover to deliver a nuanced portrayal. Grover also mentioned his close friendship with co-star Aneet Padda and his long-standing camaraderie with Ahaan Panday, who helped calm his nerves before his first day of shooting.

Grover recently completed a period film, "Flower Waali," and is set to begin a web series. He embraces a philosophy of not setting rigid goals, believing in letting his path unfold naturally, a mindset he adopted this year that has brought him contentment and enjoyment in his work.