Tanishaa Mukerji hits back at claims that ‘Saiyaara’ makers paid people to cry: ‘This is just Bollywood bashing’

Tanishaa Mukerji has spoken up in support of the team behind ‘Saiyaara’ after strange claims surfaced online. A podcast guest recently said that the film’s makers paid young people Rs 500 each to cry in theatres and promote the film. Dismissing these accusations, Tanishaa labelled it nothing more than another round of pointless Bollywood bashing and defended the genuine emotional impact of the film on young audiences.The drama began when a podcast episode featuring a conversation between creators from Asymmetric Crew and The Barber Shop with Shantanu went viral. In the episode, one of the speakers commented sarcastically about the success of ‘Saiyaara’ and questioned its emotional appeal.The guest said, “What’s happening with this ridiculous ‘Saiyaara’ movie? The producer of this movie, in my view, has paid Rs 500 in dehadi to lots of these Gen-Z young folks to go into these theatres and put on emotional performances of crying… This is how the movie is getting promoted by the way. The whole world has now become a bunch of performers.” The clip quickly gained traction online, sparking debateSaiyaara Movie ReviewUnhappy with the criticism being levelled at ‘Saiyaara’, Tanishaa decided to speak up. Commenting on the viral video, she stood firmly with the film's makers and pointed out how quickly people dismiss genuine audience reactions as fake.She wrote, “Completely disagree. Times are changing and these people are stuck in the past. Love and appreciate the new. And honestly, what rubbish is this man saying? Does he know anything for a fact? He is using the phenomenon of ‘Saiyaara’ to get views by talking negatively.”She didn’t stop there. In the same comment, she also highlighted the generational divide that might be at play here, “If people are reacting to a film, what is so wrong about that? Just because he cannot relate doesn’t mean the younger generation doesn’t either. Every generation is different. This is India. We react. Go watch the film, see how the audiences are moved. Then talk.”Calling out the trend of dismissing Bollywood success stories, she ended her comment with a strong statement, “This is just Bollywood bashing! Brands just have to find new ways to connect to their audiences!”‘Saiyaara’, directed by Mohit Suri, tells a soulful love story centred around Krish Kapoor (played by Ahaan Panday), an aspiring musician, and Vaani Batra (played by Aneet Padda), a shy and thoughtful writer. The film explores themes of heartbreak, growth, emotional connection and finding oneself through love.Its storytelling style and music-heavy narrative have resonated with younger viewers in particular, with many taking to social media to share emotional reactions and reviews. Several videos have shown tearful fans leaving cinemas, and this very phenomenon became the focus of the podcast’s scepticism. ‘Saiyaara’ is proving to be a big hit. Released in cinemas on 18 July, the film has already crossed the Rs 250 crore mark at the Indian box office