Shaad Randhawa talks about his braided look for his his character in Saiyaara

Shaad Randhawa has been a constant presence in Mohit Suri’s films from Woh Lamhe (2006) to Awarapan (2007), from Aashiqui 2 (2013) to Malang (2020). The director called on his frequent collaborator again when he began work on Saiyaara, led by Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. “I was working on my physique even before Saiyaara came to me. When Mohit saw the work I was putting into myself, he recommended me to Shanoo Sharma, the casting director at Yash Raj Films,” recalls Randhawa.

What followed were readings and workshops, after which both Suri and Sharma felt he was the right fit to play Prince, a musician who introduces Panday’s singer to Padda’s songwriter, thus kicking off their journey. The actor reveals that the director told him early on that the character would have limited screen time. “Mohit told me, ‘The character has five shots, but it’s all about aura. In those moments, you need to make the audience believe that this guy is a rockstar.’ That’s what I focused on — the vibe and the persona.”

Randhawa says they spent months attempting different looks for the musician`s act before they zeroed in on cornrows. “Initially, we thought of long hair. But when we saw it, both of us felt it wasn’t working. Then Mohit suddenly asked, ‘Bro, you want to try braids?’ I agreed, and the moment we saw it, we both knew this was the character. The braids gave it the edge we were looking for.”

Rs 294 cr
Estimated collection of ‘Saiyaara’

Seven
Films Shaad Randhawa and Mohit Suri have collaborated on