Bollywood has always been recognised globally for its magical and grand love stories with soulful music. However, it has been decades since a romantic drama film ignited a frenzy among fans and became a blockbuster. It seems that Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has broken this years-long drought of romantic movies. Starring two debutants, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara has already amassed earnings in double digits on its first day, a rare feat for films featuring newcomers.
Saiyaara’s early earnings report
According to a Sacnilk report, with pre-bookings alone, Saiyaara had sold over one lakh tickets and earned Rs. 4.41 crore. Now, after its release on July 18, 2025, the film has collected Rs. 21 crores on its opening day, according to the same portal. Additionally, it had an occupancy rate of nearly 44%. These numbers are quite huge for a film with debutants.
Mohit Suri’s last blockbuster hit was Ek Villain, released in 2014 and starring Shraddha Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra. Saiyaara has surpassed the first day collections of Ek Villain, which were Rs. 16 crores. Along with that, the record for the highest opening day earnings with debutants as leads was held by Dhadak, which starred Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, collecting nearly Rs. 8 crore on its first day. The recent Mohit Suri film has also broken this record.
Meanwhile, the record of selling the highest number of tickets on the first day for a film with debut actors is held by Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, which was the first movie of Hritik Roshan and Ameesha Patel. The film was released on January 14, 2000 and had sold 4 lakh tickets on its opening day. As of now, Saiyaara has sold around 2 lakh tickets on day 1. There is a chance of these numbers increasing as well, but it is highly unlikely that Saiyaara will be able to break the record of Hrithik’s debut film.
Bollywood fraternity is all praises for Saiyaara
Praises of Saiyaara seem to be echoing from every corner. Apart from the common audience, seasoned actors and filmmakers have also been gushing with compliments for this film and the debutants, Ahaan and Aneet. Industry experts, such as directors Madhur Bhandarkar and Sanjay Gupta, have also praised YRF’s smart promotions for Saiyaara. Prior to the release, neither of the new lead stars gave interviews or interacted with the media in any way, which helped increase the hype and anticipation for the film. It also kept the public from forming any kind of perception about Ahaan and Aneet. Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted:
“Saiyaara has shattered every myth about launching newcomers. No big names, no bug PR just raw talent and fearless storytelling. In an industry obsessed with stars, Saiyaara proved that audiences are ready for the unpredictable. A bold reminder. It’s not about who you know. It’s about what you bring. Exciting times for Hindi cinema.”
What are your thoughts on the first day earnings of Saiyaara?
Also Read: ‘Saiyaara’ X Reviews: Ahaan Panday And Aneet Padda Win Hearts Online, Fans Call It ‘Instant Classic’