Director debunks rumors of Sreeleela’s terminal illness

Filmmaker Anurag Basu has put an end to swirling rumors suggesting that his upcoming romantic musical drama, starring Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela, shares plot similarities with the recent blockbuster Saiyaara.

Addressing speculations that Sreeleela’s character suffers from a terminal illness akin to the Alzheimer’s storyline in Saiyaara, Basu categorically denied these claims, asserting that his film’s narrative is distinct and unaffected by the success of Mohit Suri’s hit.

Background of the rumors

The buzz around Basu’s untitled film intensified following the phenomenal success of Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Released on July 18, 2025, Saiyaara has grossed over Rs 300 crore, becoming the second-biggest Hindi film of the year.

The film’s emotional narrative, centered on a rockstar and his partner battling early-onset Alzheimer’s, prompted comparisons with Basu’s project, which also features a rockstar protagonist played by Kartik Aaryan. Social media speculation suggested that Sreeleela’s character in Basu’s film might have a similar terminal illness, leading to rumors of script rewrites and reshoots to avoid overlap with Saiyaara.

Sreeleela’s character

Anurag Basu firmly dismissed these rumors, emphasizing that his film’s storyline is entirely original.

“In my film, the girl doesn’t have dementia or any [other condition]. We are not rewriting or re-shooting. I knew beforehand that the girl has Alzheimer’s in Saiyaara. So, why would I write the same plot point in mine?” Basu stated, clarifying that Sreeleela’s character does not suffer from any terminal illness.

He further noted that the only commonality between the two films is that both feature a rockstar male lead, with the stories otherwise taking distinct paths. “Mohit and I are very close. I’m happy for his film’s success. The only similarity in our films is that the male lead is a rockstar, and the story is about his journey,” he added.