Mumbai, July 18, 2025 — Mohit Suri’s much-anticipated romantic drama "Saiyaara," backed by Yash Raj Films and starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, releases in theatres today amid unprecedented buzz. Despite featuring debut actors, the film has already made history with its advance booking numbers, signaling a strong box office performance and the potential to break several records.
A Record-Breaking Advance Booking
According to box office tracker Sacnilk, "Saiyaara" has amassed an astonishing ₹9.39 crore from advance bookings alone, with nearly 3.8 lakh tickets sold across the country ahead of its opening day. When block bookings are included, the figure swells to ₹12.49 crore. This remarkable feat places the film among the top Hindi openers of 2025, drawing comparisons with big-budget productions led by veteran stars. It is now on course to surpass the advance booking figures of notable debutant-led films such as "Dhadak" (₹8.76 crore) and "Student of the Year" (₹3.75 crore), and even rival releases by actors like Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar in pre-sale collections.
The film’s advance bookings have also eclipsed figures from other high-profile 2025 releases such as Ajay Devgn’s "Raid 2" and Salman Khan’s projects, positioning "Saiyaara" as one of the year's most awaited cinematic events.
Film and Music Appeal Driving the Buzz
The buzz around "Saiyaara" is credited to several factors: Mohit Suri’s reputation for romantic dramas, with hits like "Aashiqui 2" and "Ek Villain," has created significant anticipation. The film’s music, featuring contributions from renowned composers Vishal Mishra and Tanishk Bagchi, has struck a chord with audiences, with songs like "Tum Ho Toh" garnering massive viewership online.
"Saiyaara" tells the story of Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an aspiring musician, and Vaani (Aneet Padda), a principled lyricist. Their artistic and romantic collaboration forms the emotional core of the film, exploring themes of love, division, and healing.
Mohit Suri shared, “After the pandemic, the trend leaned heavily towards spectacle-driven films. With Saiyaara, I wanted to return to genuine romance—something heartfelt and relatable, moving beyond grandiosity to simple, powerful storytelling.”
Implications for the Industry and Future Prospects
"Saiyaara’s" advance booking success may reshape industry perspectives on films led by newcomers. It demonstrates how strong content, strategic marketing, and soulful music can drive box office success independent of star power. The film’s performance is being closely watched as an indicator of evolving audience preferences.
It faces competition from Hollywood releases like "Superman" and "Jurassic World: Rebirth" and Indian films such as Rajkummar Rao's "Maalik." However, if current trends continue, "Saiyaara" is poised to register an extraordinary opening day, with industry insiders predicting revenues exceeding ₹20 crore.
As audiences flock to theatres today, the film’s box office journey will be scrutinised as an important case study on the viability of fresh talent driven by compelling narrative and music in mainstream Bollywood cinema.
With its strong foundation, "Saiyaara" could well be a harbinger of a new wave of romantic cinema post-pandemic, inspiring filmmakers and studios to invest in fresh faces and authentic storytelling.