Mohit Suri’s directorial musical romantic drama film Saiyaara, starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead roles, was released in theatres on 18th July 2025. The story of Saiyaara revolves around Vaani (Aneet Padda), who is still healing from a heartbreak after her fiancé, Mahesh, called off their wedding and flew to San Francisco with his new girlfriend.
She meets Krrish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an aspiring singer, at the organization where she goes for a job interview. Despite their contrasting personalities, Vaani and Krrish gradually fall in love. However, an unexpected challenge shatters their world. How far will Krrish go to find the love of his life?
Mohit Suri once again brings back the nostalgia of soulful romantic drama with Saiyaara, which has already broken multiple records. After an opening day business of ₹22 crore and ₹26 crore on the second day, it has become the highest opening-day grosser for a film featuring debutants.
The film also recorded the best advance bookings at national chains in 2025 for a Bollywood film, surpassing biggies like Housefull 5, Raid 2, Sikandar, and Sitaare Zameen Par. Saiyaara boasts several strengths, starting from the music, performances to its overall execution.
Aneet Padda is undoubtedly the show-stealer of the film. She delivers some of the finest dialogues with remarkable innocence, expressive eyes, and a natural emotional intensity. For a newcomer, the way she delivered her lines so effortlessly and with such depth was unexpected. She showcased her potential, and if offered the right kind of roles in the future, there’s no doubt she can do wonders.
Ahaan Panday particularly shines in the emotional sequences. The opening scene stands out as his best, followed by a powerful and emotional climax. His chemistry with Aneet Padda is beautifully written and effectively portrayed on screen. The emotional moments are among the strongest elements of the film.
As expected from a Mohit Suri film, the music stands tall. The songs are not just melodious but are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enhancing the emotions. The background score, especially during the emotional scenes, is noteworthy and impactful.
Mohit Suri’s execution, especially in harnessing the full potential of two fresh talents—struck a strong chord with the audience and is a major reason behind the film’s overwhelming response. While the story isn’t path-breaking, following a familiar musical romantic drama template with contrasting personalities falling in love, facing obstacles, getting separated, and the subsequent musical journey, it is the treatment that makes all the difference for Saiyaara.
Every piece of promotional content, from the songs to the trailer, contributed significantly to building hype around the film. Since the release of the trailer, many fans on social media have been calling it Aashiqui 3—though it isn't—but the core theme strongly evokes the vibe of the Aashiqui franchise.
The strong word-of-mouth and audience connect once again proved that good content will always be appreciated. Keeping the lead pair away from appearing in podcasts and other promotions also looked like a brilliant strategy from the makers that worked in the film’s favour.
The film’s box office performance has been so influential that the upcoming comedy-drama Son of Sardaar 2, starring Superstar Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur—originally scheduled for a 25th July 2025 release—has now been postponed by a week to 1st August 2025.
Even Yash Raj Films, who had initially planned to launch the trailer of their highly anticipated film War 2 on 23rd July 2025, delayed its release by a week to 30th July 2025, possibly to avoid a clash with Saiyaara's ongoing buzz.
Yash Raj Films began their cinematic journey in 1973 with the romantic drama Daag, directed by Yash Chopra and starring Superstar Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, and Raakhee. Over the past 52 years, the banner has gifted Indian cinema with some of the most memorable romantic dramas—films like Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila, Lamhe, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Veer-Zaara, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. These films have entertained generations and will continue to be cherished as long as cinema lives on.
So, their backing of Saiyaara—working for the first time with director Mohit Suri and giving two new talents the space to explore their potential, while also supporting the film with grand visuals—is hardly surprising. The massive success of Saiyaara may encourage Bollywood to explore more stories in this genre and offer greater opportunities to fresh talent in the industry.
Mohit Suri made his directorial debut in 2005 with the mystery thriller Zeher, starring Emraan Hashmi, Shamita Shetty, and Udita Goswami. Over two decades in the industry, Mohit Suri has built a loyal fan base. His popularity soared with the release of Aashiqui 2 in 2013, featuring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor.
Though his last few films didn’t meet expectations, fans had been eagerly waiting for his comeback, and he delivered in a big way with Saiyaara. His next big project, Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi, is already generating buzz, and the expectations from this director-actor duo are higher than ever.
Rating: 7/10
Q: What kind of film is Saiyaara, and when was it released?
A: Saiyaara is a coming-of-age musical romantic drama
directed by Mohit Suri. Featuring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the
film hit theatres on 18th July 2025.
A: The story revolves around Vaani (Aneet Padda), who is
recovering from a heartbreak after her fiancé Mahesh called off their wedding.
She meets aspiring singer Krrish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday) at a job interview
location. Despite their contrasting personalities, they fall in love. But an
unexpected challenge threatens to separate them, prompting Krrish to fight for
their love.
Q: How has the audience responded to Saiyaara?
A: The film has received an overwhelming response. It broke
multiple records, earning ₹22 crore on its opening day and ₹26 crore on day
two, becoming the highest opening-day grosser for a film featuring debutants.
Q: How did Saiyaara perform in terms of advance bookings?
A: It recorded the best advance bookings at national chains
for a Bollywood film in 2025, outperforming Housefull 5, Raid 2, Sikandar, and Sitaare
Zameen Par.
Q: What has been praised the most in the film?
A: The film’s music, lead performances, emotional depth, and
Mohit Suri’s execution have been widely praised. The chemistry between the
leads and the effective emotional scenes are particular highlights.
Q: How did Aneet Padda perform in her debut?
A: Aneet Padda emerged as the show-stealer. Her expressive
eyes, innocence, and effortless delivery of emotionally rich dialogues have
drawn significant appreciation. Critics believe she holds immense potential if
offered the right roles.
Q: How was Ahaan Panday’s performance received?
A: Ahaan Panday’s emotional depth, particularly in the
opening and climax scenes, was praised. His chemistry with Aneet Padda
contributed meaningfully to the film’s emotional impact.
Q: How is the music in Saiyaara?
A: As expected from a Mohit Suri film, the music is a strong
asset. Songs are melodious, emotionally charged, and seamlessly blend into the
narrative. The background score, especially in intense scenes, leaves a lasting
impression.
Q: Is the story of Saiyaara unique?
A: The core plot follows a familiar romantic drama
template—contrasting personalities, love, separation, and emotional growth—but
it’s the heartfelt execution that elevates it above cliché.
Q: How did the promotional strategy contribute to the film’s
success?
A: The trailer and songs generated strong pre-release buzz.
The makers also made the strategic choice to keep the lead pair away from
excessive media appearances, which added to the curiosity and worked in the
film’s favour.
Q: How has Saiyaara impacted other film releases?
A: Due to Saiyaara's strong performance, Son of Sardaar 2
postponed its release from 25th July to 1st August 2025. Similarly, Yash Raj
Films delayed the trailer launch of War 2 from 23rd to 30th July to avoid
overlapping buzz.
Q: What is Yash Raj Films’ involvement in Saiyaara?
A: Yash Raj Films backed Saiyaara, collaborating for the
first time with Mohit Suri and supporting debutants with grand visuals. Given
YRF’s legacy in romantic dramas, their involvement in a project like this feels
like a natural fit.
Q: How does Saiyaara compare to Mohit Suri’s past works?
A: Saiyaara rekindles the vibe of Aashiqui 2, which was a
turning point in Mohit Suri’s career. Though Saiyaara is not a direct sequel,
fans have drawn comparisons due to its emotional depth and musical essence.
Q: What does the success of Saiyaara indicate for Bollywood?
A: The film’s triumph suggests a revived interest in
heartfelt musical romances and may encourage filmmakers to take chances on
fresh talent and emotionally driven narratives.
Q: What’s next for Mohit Suri?
A: Following Saiyaara’s success, Mohit Suri’s next big
project is Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi. The film is already generating
buzz and expectations are high for this reunion.
Q: What is the final verdict on Saiyaara?
A: Saiyaara is a nostalgic, emotionally resonant romantic
musical that showcases fresh talent with sincerity. Despite a familiar
storyline, its execution and heartfelt performances make it a worthwhile watch.
Rating: 7/10
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