In Bollywood, it is expected that movies of old superstars will bring in big box office collections. But with an exceptional record-breaking entry, a movie starring new faces in lead roles has enchanted crowds. Mohit Suri’s latest work ‘Saiyaara’ was released in theatres on July 18, 2025.
New Faces, Historic Numbers
After two days the total collections stands at staggering Rs 37.79 crores. The movie collected Rs 21.25 crore at the domestic box office on day one of its theatrical release. It earned around Rs 17 crores on day 2. These are the highest collections for a romantic Bollywood movie, ahead of Kabir Singh (Rs 20.25 crore) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (Rs 19.50 crore). Its exceptional opening has even outpaced recent releases led by A-listers – Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ (Rs 10.7 crore) and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Sky Force’ (Rs 12.25 crore). Industry tracking website Sacnilk noted, “It will be aiming for 70-80 crore net opening weekend, which is a sensational start.”
It stars newcomer Ahaan Panday. Aneet Padda has acted in the web series Big Girls Don’t Cry and the Kajol-starrer film Salaam Venky. The romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF), has generated positive reviews. It was released in 8,000 screens. This is the biggest opening day release ever for a debutant-led film. It is the career-best opening for director Suri. Additionally, it marks the highest opening day for a love story.
Box Office Win Without a PR Blitz
The statement by the makers said, “Achieved all this without the actors being opened up to public gaze. There was no traditional publicity and marketing approach. That means zero interviews, zero city visits, no reels, no influencer content, no visibility. Just the power of strong content marketed to the entire nation.”
Gen Z’s Aashiqui
Mohit Suri is known for painting romances on screen. Saiyaara revolves around Krish Kapoor, an aspiring singer, and Vaani Batra, a budding journalist. The hero is a reckless maniac, the heroine is a fragile soul bruised inside out. As their love blossoms, they find themselves up against numerous odds. Set to a soundtrack that’s already winning hearts, the film blends romance, ambition, and emotional drama. Critics and audiences have highlighted the on-screen chemistry of Ahaan Panday, Ananya Panday’s cousin, and Aneet Padda. They gave rave reviews.
Modern Bollywood was missing something. It was soulful, heartwrenching romantic movies filled with drama and good songs. Saiyaara has ticked all these boxes. The soundtrack, the premise, and the fresh new faces have struck a chord with Gen-Z viewers. They have evoked nostalgia with movies similar to Aashiqui 2. Saiyaara and its growing success once again prove that the Indian audience loves a good romance.
Budget and Paychecks of the New Sensational
The standard fee for newcomers in a YRF-backed movie is usually around Rs 3 to 5 crores. This is according to industry insiders. Official figures haven’t been disclosed. However, since Ahaan comes from a known family, he is believed to have earned slightly more than Aneet Padda.
No official source has disclosed Mohit Suri’s directorial fee. Still, media reports indicate that he is earning somewhere between Rs. 6-8 crore, which is reportedly in line with industry standards for a project of this scale. He has previously directed Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain. He is one of the best romantic film directors in Indian cinema.
Reportedly, Saiyaara is made on a budget of Rs. 35-40 crores. The post-production print and advertising all together round off the total expenditure to nearly Rs. 60 crore.
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Fresh Faces, Frenzied Fans
A video of a show of Saiyaara at a theatre has gone viral. The fans’ infectious energy spread through the hall. Everyone went crazy while watching Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda on the silver screen. Fans were seen singing, dancing, and a man even took off his shirt in excitement. Saiyaara is generating a lot of hype, with netizens wondering if they should book tickets already.
A comment read, “Actually when this song plays in the movie, it is so fantasticly shown. I got goosebumps and was crying like crazy. People were whistling and shouting in my theatre. I guess people react differently when the content exceeds your expectations. Let people enjoy how they want to.”
Under a viral Reddit thread, a social media user shared, “Just came back from a show ..the hype is real. I went to hate watch and actually found it enjoyable.”
“A Star Is Born”
Recently, Ananya Panday also attended the special screening of Saiyaara and shared that she’s proud of her cousin Ahaan. Taking to Instagram, Ananya shared a few heartfelt pictures from the evening. One showed her hugging Ahaan tightly. Another picture had her posing with an “Ahaan Panday Fan Club” sticker stuck to her forehead. She captioned the post, “A star is born ⭐️, my Saiyaara @ahaanpandayy.”
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