Saiyaara, a love drama by Mohit Suri that stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has done very well at the Indian box office. The movie came out on July 18, 2025, and soon broke records, making its lead actors Bollywood stars.

How Well It Did at the Box Office: A Good Start

Saiyaara had a great first day, making ₹25 crore (about $2.9 million) and getting about 975,000 people to watch it across the country. This is the biggest opening day for a Hindi film with fresh actors, breaking records set by other films like Dhadak. The movie did well at the box office, making ₹83 crore net in India on its debut weekend. By the fourth day, Saiyaara had made over ₹100 crore in India and around ₹119 crore around the world. On its fifth day, the movie made ₹151 crore over the world, which is more than Mohit Suri's last smash, Aashiqui 2, made in its whole existence.

This success is especially impressive considering it happened with fewer showings than other big movies. There were also a lot of advance ticket sales for the movie, with more than 375,000 tickets sold before it came out. It was 44% full on the first day, and by Sunday it was 71% full.

An unusual way to market

One thing that makes Saiyaara's success stand out is its one-of-a-kind marketing plan. The production company, Yash Raj Films, decided to keep the new performers, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, completely out of the public eye. This meant no interviews, tours to promote the book, social media posts, or relationships with influencers. Some people in the business were skeptical at first about starting a relationship with rookies in a market that normally makes big-budget action movies, but Mohit Suri stuck to his guns. This way, the music and emotional plot of the movie could speak for themselves, which made people talk about it.

Character Arcs: Krish Kapoor and Vaani Batra

Ahaan Panday plays Krish Kapoor, a great musician who is having trouble with his emotions as he strives to make a name for himself in the music business. Sometimes Krish acts strangely because he puts his problems into his songs. Aneet Padda plays Vaani Batra, a shy poet and composer who works at a publishing business. Vaani is getting over a broken heart from the past. She was deserted at the altar.

Krish finds Vaani's personal poems, which shows him her artistic ability and gives him an opportunity to connect with her. Vaani starts to heal via her relationship with Krish as they work on music together. She finds strength and comes out of her shell. In exchange, Vaani gives Krish a sense of stability and purpose. The movie depicts how they get over their feelings and how their artistic relationship grows. But later, Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which makes their narrative much more agonizing.

Ahaan Panday plays Krish with confidence in his first role, demonstrating intensity and emotional depth. Aneet Padda's portrayal of Vaani is known for being expressive and charming in a genuine way, mixing vulnerability with strength. Their chemistry is a big part of what makes the movie so interesting.

The Musical Heart of "Saiyaara": Analyzing the Soundtrack

In Saiyaara, music is more than simply a background; it's a character in its own right. Mohit Suri, who is famous for his popular songs, spent five years putting up the film's album, which included melodies and songs. There are seven songs on the album, all of which were written by Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Tanishk Bagchi, Rishabh Kant, Vishal Mishra, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. Irshad Kamil, Mithoon, Rishabh Kant, and Raj Shekhar wrote the words. John Stewart Eduri wrote the music for the background.

People have liked the title tune, "Saiyaara," as well as other tracks like "Barbaad" and "Tum Ho Toh." The album also brought fresh singers and composers from Kashmir to Bollywood, like Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. Critics have commended the deep music for bringing the plot to life and making the movie more emotional.

Critical Reception: Different Points of View

Critics have mostly liked Saiyaara. Bollywood Hungama's Taran Adarsh gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars and said it was a "stirring musical saga elevated by Mohit Suri's deft direction, heartfelt romance, chart-topping music, and stellar lead performances." Rishil Jogani of Pinkvilla gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and said it is "a beautifully crafted romantic drama that triumphs through its stellar performances, enchanting music, and Mohit Suri's masterful direction."

Jaya Dwivedie of India TV gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said it was a "slow-paced love story that tries to reach the hearts of the audience despite its unfamiliarity and incompleteness." Vinamra Mathur from Firstpost similarly gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said that Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda "sail through this messy, imperfect love story." Vineeta Kumar of India Today gave the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars and said that it "doesn't promise the best love story or the most dazzling performances," but that it "holds your hand, sings to your broken heart, and walks with you for a while."

What People Are Saying and What People Are Talking About on Social Media

The movie has really connected with people, and there has been a lot of good comment on social media. Many people have said nice things about Mohit Suri's direction and the new combination of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.

"Saiyaara" is not your typical love story; it dares to be distinctive and does so in a big way. Ahaan's first performance is great—he has a strong presence on film and an emotionally sophisticated performance.

— @Bollywoodwallah

Completely shocked... New duo, great performance, especially Aneet. Too good... This is a movie from the New Age. #Yashrajfilms #mohitsuri

— @Filmy_Naari

There are so many real feelings and great chemistry in Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's first movie. Mohit Suri's music is magical and heartwarming; every scene makes you feel something. A must-see romantic work of art.

— @Being_Spidey_

Bollywood actors have also spoken nice things about the movie and its stars.

Give a round of applause to the #Saiyaara squad... Big thanks to #AhaanPanday and #AneetPadda for making it look so easy to play their parts. This one deserves all the attention it gets.

— Mahesh Babu

It's safe to say that two lovely, majestic STARS have come into the world. @aneetpadda_ @ahaanpandayy - I can't recall the last time I was that impressed by two actors. With stars in my eyes, I see the stars in yours.

— Alia Bhatt

Effects on Bollywood Debuts and Trends in the Future

Ahaan Panday, the nephew of actor Chunky Panday and the cousin of Ananya Panday, has been in the news for a while. He went to the University of Mumbai to study Fine Arts and Film, and YRF's talent division taught him how to act. Aneet Padda, who was born in Amritsar, Punjab, doesn't come from a cinema background. She began her career with TV and online ads. She then starred in Salaam Venky (2022) and the web series Big Girls Don't Cry (2024) before getting the starring part in Saiyaara.

Saiyaara's success illustrates that movies with fresh actors may do very well, which goes against the idea that only great stars can make a lot of money at the box office. This could change the way things are done in Bollywood in the future, giving young talent more chances. Aneet Padda's performance has made her India's "National Crush," which means she is a bright new presence.

This first performance by Ahaan Panday creates a great base. His ability to tackle a tough part in his first movie shows that he will be able to do a lot of other things in the future. After this triumph, both actors are likely to get bigger roles.

A Comparison of Mohit Suri's Movies

Saiyaara is Mohit Suri's best opening ever, and he's recognized for his love plays. Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Ek Villain (2014) are two of his other hits. Aashiqui 2 made ₹6.10 crore at the box office, and Ek Villain made ₹16.70 crore. But Saiyaara made ₹21 crore at the box office.

At first, Suri thought about Saiyaara as a possible third movie in the Aashiqui series, but he later made it on his own. The movie goes back to Suri's usual themes of love, sorrow, and music, but in a new way. Saiyaara doesn't use unnecessary drama like some of his other movies. Instead, it focuses on being emotionally honest. Its popularity shows once again that Suri is good at writing love stories that touch people's hearts.

Messages and Themes

Saiyaara is mostly about love, heartbreak, ambition, and healing. The story tells how Krish and Vaani, who are both going through a lot of emotional pain, find comfort and strength in their relationship. The movie is about unconditional love and how people with flaws can make a great love tale. It asks if someone would risk everything to keep a loved one in their life, even if it meant facing problems and doubts. The story is about how Vaani and Krish help one other heal. Vaani gets stronger and Krish gets more focused via their connection.

The Road Ahead

Saiyaara's great acting has set a new standard for Bollywood romance dramas with debutant leads. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's achievement means that both performers have a bright career ahead of them. Not only have critics praised their performances, but they have also won over a lot of fans, making them people to watch in the years to come.