Kussh S Sinha, the director of "Nikita Roy and The Book of Darkness," starring his sister Sonakshi Sinha, has attributed the film's disappointing box office performance to the overwhelming success of "Saiyaara". In a recent interview, Sinha expressed that the "Saiyaara" wave swept away any chance his film had at the box office.

"Nikita Roy," a horror mystery thriller, was released on July 18, 2025, the same day as Mohit Suri's "Saiyaara". While "Saiyaara," starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has become a surprise hit, grossing over ₹250 crore domestically in just eleven days and nearing ₹400 crore worldwide, "Nikita Roy" has struggled, earning only ₹1.24 crore.

Sinha explained that he and his team tried to secure more screens for "Nikita Roy," but the "Saiyaara" wave proved too strong. Despite the challenging circumstances, he mentioned that theatre chains recognized the film's merit and supported it. He also noted that "Nikita Roy" actually saw a 40%-50% increase in screens in its second week.

Adding to the releases on the same day was Anupam Kher's "Tanvi The Great," which also struggled at the box office. Sinha pointed out that "Tanvi The Great" was pulled from many theaters, while "Nikita Roy" managed to maintain its presence. According to reports, "Tanvi The Great" barely managed ₹4 lakh, while "Nikita Roy" made ₹22 lakh on its opening day.

Kussh Sinha also congratulated the team of "Saiyaara" for their unexpected success. He added, "Nobody anticipated this wave, and box office results aren't in our hands. I'm happy that a romantic film starring two newcomers has done so well".

Furthermore, Sinha addressed the rumors that "Saiyaara" had plagiarized the Korean film "A Moment To Remember". While he didn't directly comment on the allegations, he emphasized that "Nikita Roy" is an original story. "The best thing is that it is an entirely original film, we haven't plagiarised content from anywhere,” he stated.

Despite the box office clash, Sinha remains committed to telling original stories and stated that if he ever remakes a film, it will be an official one. According to box office reports, "Nikita Roy" had a budget of approximately ₹10 crore. The film revolves around Nikita (Sonakshi Sinha), who uncovers a cursed book and must confront its dark mysteries. The cast includes Paresh Rawal, Arjun Rampal, and Suhail Nayyar.