Mumbai: Mohit Suri’s romantic drama ‘Saiyaara’, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has crossed ₹200 crore in India within nine days of its July 18 release, setting its sights on a ₹500 crore global target by leveraging strong word-of-mouth and minimal competition.
‘Saiyaara’, directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, has emerged as a box office juggernaut, amassing ₹206 crore net in India by July 26, its ninth day, according to Sacnilk. The film, which follows the emotional journey of a troubled musician, Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), and a shy poet, Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), collected ₹172.75 crore in its first week and added ₹18 crore on its second Friday. On its second Saturday, it earned ₹15.32 crore by 6:15 pm, pushing its domestic total past the ₹200 crore milestone, making it the fastest Hindi film of 2025 to achieve this feat.
Globally, ‘Saiyaara’ has grossed ₹280.6 crore, including nearly $4 million (₹30 crore) overseas, surpassing the lifetime collections of major 2025 releases like Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ (₹170 crore), Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ (₹176 crore), and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Housefull 5’ (₹183 crore). The film’s second weekend is projected to add ₹70 crore net in India, potentially reaching ₹225 crore by Sunday, driven by increased screenings and a lack of major Hindi releases until August 1.
The film’s success is fuelled by its emotional storytelling, chart-topping music, and the fresh chemistry of its leads, resonating strongly with younger audiences. Its title track has climbed to No. 7 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, with over 4.9 million streams, amplifying its cultural impact. With ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ and ‘Dhadak 2’ postponed to August 1, ‘Saiyaara’ enjoys a clear run, boosting its chances of challenging top earners like ‘Chhaava’ (₹809 crore worldwide).
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh hailed ‘Saiyaara’ as a “record-smashing spree,” noting on X, “The pace at which #Saiyaara is soaring – day after day – is incredible… ₹200 cr will be crossed comfortably before Weekend 2 concludes, and with ₹300 cr well within reach, the big question now is: Can #Saiyaara hit ₹400 cr?” He credits its unprecedented performance for a debutant-led film to its emotional depth and lack of reliance on star power.
Industry peers, including Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Karan Johar, have praised the film, with Aamir Khan Productions congratulating the team on Instagram for its “remarkable theatrical success.” However, some critics, like Kusumika Das of Times Now, gave it 2.5/5 stars, noting that while the film has “flashes of brilliance,” it “only touched the clouds” compared to Suri’s past works. Despite mixed reviews, its ₹40-50 crore budget has already yielded massive profits, positioning it as one of Bollywood’s most profitable films ever.
‘Saiyaara’s meteoric rise underscores the enduring appeal of heartfelt storytelling and fresh talent in Bollywood, with its trajectory suggesting a potential ₹350-400 crore lifetime haul in India and ₹500 crore worldwide. As theatres gear up for a robust second weekend, the film is poised to redefine box office benchmarks, proving that content-driven cinema can still captivate audiences in a star-driven industry.