The romantic drama "Saiyaara," starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has become a box office phenomenon, exceeding expectations and achieving remarkable success in a short period. Directed by Mohit Suri and backed by Yash Raj Films, the movie has not only captivated audiences but has also rewritten box office records, surpassing several major releases of recent years.
In its first week, "Saiyaara" earned ₹172.75 crore, becoming the second-highest Week 1 grosser of the year, only behind Vicky Kaushal's "Chhaava". By its eighth day, the film had collected ₹190.75 crore and is expected to cross the ₹200 crore milestone soon. Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh described the movie's performance as an "epic blockbuster," noting that no one anticipated "Saiyaara" would shake the industry with such phenomenal numbers.
One of the most impressive feats of "Saiyaara" is its strong weekday retention and footfalls, outperforming some of the biggest post-pandemic Bollywood blockbusters. On its fifth day, a Tuesday, "Saiyaara" collected ₹25 crore, surpassing the first Tuesday collections of "Dangal" (₹23.09 crore), "Pathaan" (₹23 crore), and "Tiger Zinda Hai" (₹21.60 crore). This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering that "Saiyaara" features newcomers in leading roles, defying traditional industry logic.
"Saiyaara" has also surpassed the lifetime collections of several major releases, including "Housefull 5" and "Raid 2". Within three days of its release, "Saiyaara" had earned more than "Sky Force," "Sitaare Zameen Par," and "Kesari Chapter 2," and has also overtaken the lifetime collections of "Maalik," "Deva," "Maa," and "The Diplomat". Moreover, the film has outperformed Anurag Basu's star-studded film "Metro... In Dino".
Globally, "Saiyaara" has also achieved impressive numbers. By its seventh day, the film had collected ₹250.5 crore worldwide, including ₹43.5 crore from overseas markets. In its opening weekend, "Saiyaara" grossed $11.9 million globally, ranking ninth on the global box office chart, according to Comscore.
The success of "Saiyaara" has been attributed to several factors, including heartfelt storytelling, strong performances by the debutant leads, and a popular soundtrack. The film has resonated particularly well with the youth, with its emotional core and gripping performances driving repeat viewership across urban and tier-2 centers. Komal Nahta called "Saiyaara" the "modern day DDLJ," praising its timeless love story, and both Nahta and Taran Adarsh lauded the fresh pairing of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, as well as Mohit Suri's direction.
"Saiyaara" recorded ₹9.39 crore in advance bookings before its release, with 3.8 lakh tickets sold. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reported that 1.38 lakh tickets were sold across national chains, including 1.05 lakh in PVR INOX and 33,000 in Cinepolis, marking the highest opening day ticket sales for a debut film since 2000.
As "Saiyaara" enters its second week, it is expected to continue its strong performance, with Sacnilk estimating a second weekend collection in the range of ₹70 crore net. If the momentum holds, there is a chance of "Saiyaara" reaching the ₹250 crore mark by the end of its second weekend, a monumental benchmark for a movie led by fresh faces.
