When love meets fire, history gets written.
Saiyaara, the romantic action-drama directed by Mohit Suri, has become one of the biggest Bollywood shockers of 2025. Starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film released on July 18, 2025, under the banner of Yash Raj Films — and what followed was nothing short of cinematic history.
Against all expectations, Saiyaara exploded at the box office, proving that strong emotions and storytelling still rule hearts.
Box Office Rampage
Within just nine days, Saiyaara crossed ₹300 crore worldwide, and by day ten, it collected ₹220.75 crore net in India. The film comfortably beat major releases like Raid 2, Sitaare Zameen Par, and Housefull 5, emerging as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025.
Internationally, the film performed exceptionally well. In North America, it earned over $4.5 million by early August, becoming the second highest-grossing Bollywood film there, just behind Chhaava. Trade experts even projected it to touch $5 million, driven by powerful word-of-mouth.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh described the film as being in “rampage mode”, with packed shows across metros, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities. Due to massive demand, midnight shows were added nationwide.
Critical Love & Gen-Z Craze
Critics praised the fresh chemistry between Ahaan Panday (cousin of Ananya Panday) and Aneet Padda, calling the film a “love story to remember.” Mohit Suri’s direction, emotional depth, and music were widely appreciated, making Saiyaara a pop-culture moment for Gen-Z.
The release also aligned with Yash Raj Films celebrating 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, adding emotional nostalgia. A special statue unveiling by Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in London further boosted excitement.
OTT Strategy That Paid Off
Instead of rushing to OTT, the makers negotiated with Netflix to delay the digital release from mid-September to around Diwali, ensuring maximum theatrical earnings. With no major Hindi releases competing, Saiyaara continued dominating cinemas even into its third week, outperforming star-driven films like Kesari 2 and Jaat.
A Legacy Sealed
By August 2025, Saiyaara had rewritten the rules for newcomer-led films. It officially became the highest-grossing Indian romantic film ever, blending intense love with action and emotion.
Saiyaara didn’t just succeed — it made history.