Yash Raj Films’ latest romantic drama Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has taken the Indian box office by storm. Led by debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film recorded a historic opening, cementing itself as one of the most successful newcomer-led films in Indian cinema.
Released on July 18, Saiyaara grossed an impressive ₹25 crore on its first day, with nearly 9.75 lakh theatre-goers across India. This opening shattered the previous record held by Dhadak (₹8.76 crore) and also outperformed romantic hits like Kabir Singh, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar.
Saiyaara, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, becomes a box office sensation with ₹83 crore opening weekend, record ticket sales, and Mohit Suri’s best opening to date.
Record Advance Bookings and Career-High for Mohit Suri
The film’s momentum began even before its release, with ₹9.39 crore in advance bookings and 3.8 lakh tickets sold, the highest for any debut film since the early 2000s. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reported that 1.38 lakh tickets were sold across national chains — 1.05 lakh in PVR INOX and 33,000 in Cinepolis.
For director Mohit Suri, Saiyaara is now his biggest opening ever, surpassing the first-day collections of Ek Villain (₹16.70 crore), Murder 2 (₹6.95 crore), and Aashiqui 2 (₹6.10 crore).
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Despite having only 8,000 shows across the country less than half the average for major releases — theatres reported sold-out screenings in major cities, reflecting overwhelming audience interest.
Global Impact and Surpassing Star-Led Films
Saiyaara is not just dominating domestic charts. Its global gross hit $11.9 million, placing it 9th on the worldwide box office chart, according to Comscore. In India, the film collected ₹83 crore over its first weekend, entering the top five highest opening weekends of 2025.
The romantic drama also outperformed several big-ticket releases including Sky Force, Raid 2, Sitaare Zameen Par, and Kesari Chapter 2. Within just three days, it surpassed the lifetime earnings of Maalik, Deva, Maa, The Diplomat, and Metro… In Dino.
Saiyaara Revives Bollywood’s Love Affair With Romance
The success of Saiyaara marks a strong comeback for Bollywood’s romantic genre, which had recently seen interest with the re-releases of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Sanam Teri Kasam. With its youthful cast, powerful storytelling, and stunning numbers, Saiyaara has set a new benchmark for romance-led box office triumphs.
