Shaan Groverr Breaks His Silence: Saiyaara’s Villain Reveals All About Overnight Stardom, Struggles, and What’s Next

After setting the silver screen on fire as the unforgettable villain in Mohit Suri’s latest blockbuster Saiyaara, Shaan Groverr is finally stepping into the limelight—this time off-screen. In his first in-depth interview since the movie’s phenomenal ₹100-crore opening, Groverr goes unfiltered about the rollercoaster of emotions, behind-the-scenes hustle, viral audience reactions, and his dreams for the future. Here’s everything you didn’t know about Bollywood’s newest sensation.

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From Audition Room to Box Office Smash

Groverr admits that even in his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined debuting in Hindi cinema with such a bang. “When your first film racks up 100 crores in just four days, life changes overnight,” he says, still in disbelief. Known for his relentless passion for movies, Shaan shares how much he loves and lives for acting—so much so that sometimes he wishes he could love other things just as much.

His journey to playing Mahesh Iyer in Saiyaara started much like any outsider’s: an endless series of auditions, rejections, and gritty persistence. “I’ve faced plenty of setbacks—and I’ve worked my butt off to get here,” Groverr reflects. When cast as Mahesh, he beat out hundreds of hopefuls in a fierce audition process that pushed him to bring out both the cunning and the emotional layers of the role.

The Method to Mahesh’s Madness

Portraying a villain wasn’t easy, especially one so layered. “During my second audition, I even cried—playing the role not just as a villain, but as someone deeply in love and conflicted. That duality really clicked with the makers, and I realized the trick is to show depth, not just darkness.” His nuanced act earned him both admiration and, hilariously, hate-filled messages. “The boys hate my character, but surprisingly, the girls send supportive messages—’Don’t worry, it’s just the character, you’re good in real life.’ I was shocked at the love and understanding!” laughs Shaan.

He credits director Mohit Suri for guiding him through the challenge, especially in scenes that required subtle menace rather than over-the-top villainy. “There are so many shades to playing a negative character, and Mohit sir helped me get into that headspace.”

The Saiyaara Strategy: No Gimmicks, Just Characters

The film’s success, Shaan believes, is rooted in authenticity—minimizing hype and marketing, letting the heart of the story and the power of the characters speak for themselves. “Even before release, the focus wasn’t on the actors’ real personalities, but entirely on their characters. The audience felt that connect, and it paid off big time.”

Fan Frenzy, Viral Reels, and the Blessing of Hate

From viral reels of fans crying and singing in theatres to social media featuring relentless memes and reactions, Saiyaara has become more than a movie—it’s a cultural moment. Shaan takes the hate and adoration in stride, seeing all reactions as testament to his work’s impact. “People are angry, crying, even sending me threats as Mahesh! I take it as a compliment—a sign that my portrayal worked.”

What’s Next for Bollywood’s Newest Antihero?

Despite the attention, Groverr says he’s still hungry, hustling, and grounded. His next project, Jagdalpur, is a supernatural-love web series where he leads as an intense romantic—a complete 180 from his current villainous turn. A true cinephile, he dreams of working with directors like Karan Johar and Vishal Bhardwaj, and even hopes one day to bring his own stories to the screen.

As Saiyaara continues to smash records, Shaan Groverr’s message for fans is simple: “Thank you for the overwhelming love and hate! That was just a character—now I hope you see Shaan Groverr in a new light with every new project. This is just the beginning.”

Could Bollywood’s next superstar villain actually be its next romantic hero? Stay tuned—because Shaan Groverr is just getting started.