How Saiyaara Became the Highest-Grossing Romantic Film of 2025

Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, defied expectations by surpassing ₹500 crore at the global box office—making it India’s biggest romantic film of 2025.

On Day 1, the film pulled in over ₹21 crore—remarkable for a movie without star veterans. The weekend numbers only climbed, bolstered by strong word-of-mouth, memorable music, and emotional resonance. Within weeks, Saiyaara passed films led by Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, solidifying its position among the year’s highest earners.

But the path to success wasn’t smooth. As revealed by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, Saiyaara was rejected multiple times during its development, and Mohit Suri had to fight long and hard to bring the film to life with newcomers in the lead.

Industry observers note that Saiyaara’s success has potentially shifted the paradigm—demonstrating that emotionally rich stories and music-driven romance can compete with blockbuster spectacles, especially when backed by strong promotion and platform release strategies.