Mumbai – Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) new romantic drama, Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has stormed the Indian box office, setting new records and rewriting film history. The film marks a spectacular debut for Ahaan Panday and his co-star Anneet Padda, catapulting them to stardom overnight.
目次
Historic Opening for a Debut Film
According to a statement from YRF, the romantic drama grossed an impressive ₹25 crore (approximately $2.9 million) in India on its opening day, July 18th, with an attendance of 975,000.
This figure represents one of the largest opening days for a film starring newcomers in the history of Indian cinema. It marks a historic achievement for a debut film, the likes of which haven’t been seen since landmark launches such as 2000’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, which introduced Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel, and Refugee, the debut vehicle for Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan.
Career-Best Opening for Director Mohit Suri
The massive success of Saiyaara also signifies a personal best for director Mohit Suri, who is known for helming successful romantic dramas like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain. This opening is the highest of his career.
Furthermore, Saiyaara has become the first romantic story film to surpass the $2 million mark in a single day at the box office in the post-pandemic era. The film is produced by YRF’s CEO, Akshaye Widhani.
Synopsis and Cast of ‘Saiyaara’
The story revolves around Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a burgeoning musician whose exceptional talent and ambition lead him into the harsh realities of the modern music industry. Along the way, he has a fateful encounter with Vaani Batra (Anneet Padda), a gifted and principled songwriter.
Creative sparks fly between them, and as their partnership deepens, their relationship evolves into a passionate and complex romance. The on-screen chemistry between the dazzling debutant Ahaan Panday and the rising star Anneet Padda, previously noted for her role in the Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry, has been a major draw for audiences.
Unconventional Promotion Strategy Fuels Success
Notably, this record-breaking box office collection was achieved with a limited release of only 8,000 screenings nationwide. This is significantly lower than the approximately 18,000 screenings typically required to achieve a comparable opening figure.
Behind this success was an unconventional promotional strategy that kept the lead actors entirely out of the public eye. The campaign completely avoided interviews, promotional tours, social media engagement, and influencer collaborations. This mysterious approach piqued public curiosity, leading to strong advance ticket sales and sold-out shows in major cities.
As of now, box office figures for the film’s international release have not yet been announced.