Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara opens today (July 18), and its advance billing has already made headlines. Despite featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film has captured massive attention-even before its official release.
Record-Breaking Advance Bookings
According to Sacnilk, Saiyaara achieved a stunning ₹9.39 crore in advance ticket sales for its opening day, with 3.8 lakh seats sold. That’s higher than films like Dhadak (₹8.76 cr) and Student of the Year (₹3.75 cr), both led by debutant actors-and now surpassed by Saiyaara.
Forecast: A ₹20-25 Crore Opening?
Experts now predict a ₹20+ crore opening day-potentially the fourth largest of the year, trailing only Chhaava, Sikandar, and Housefull 5. If momentum holds on Friday, Saiyaara could surpass Housefull 5 and secure ₹25 crore or more.
How Saiyaara Surpassed Big-Budget Films of Bollywood Superstars
Saiyaara surprised everyone by crossing ₹9.39 crore in advance bookings, beating most Bollywood films released this year. Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force made ₹3.78 crore, while Kesari Chapter 2 did even less at ₹1.84 crore. Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 couldn’t catch up either, earning ₹6.52 crore. Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par fell far behind with just ₹3.32 crore.
The only exception was Salman Khan’s Sikandar, which had slightly higher advance sales at ₹10 crore. However, Saiyaara still outshined Sikandar in two big ways:
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It sold more tickets overall (3.8 lakh for Saiyaara vs. 3.3 lakh for Sikandar).
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In multiplex chains across India, Saiyaara sold almost double the tickets compared to Sikandar.
While Salman’s film performed better in single-screen theaters and mass-market areas, Saiyaara dominated urban centers and premium screens with ease.
Saiyaara First Review: Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda’s Big Debut Wins Hearts
Newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda may have stayed away from the spotlight before the release of their highly awaited film Saiyaara, but now the buzz around their Yash Raj Films debut is unstoppable.
Directed by Mohit Suri, this romantic musical has already made waves at the box office. It scored the third-highest advance booking for a Bollywood release in 2025, even beating films by some of Bollywood’s biggest names-Aamir Khan (Sitaare Zameen Par), Akshay Kumar (Sky Force, Kesari 2, Housefull 5), and Ajay Devgn (Raid 2).
With soulful music, an intense love story, and fresh faces bringing raw emotions to the screen, Saiyaara is proving to be more than just a debut-it’s a phenomenon in the making.
Mohit Suri’s Bold Move
Director Mohit Suri chose fresh faces like Ahaan Panday to embody the innocence and intensity of first love. He believes in discovering new talent-actors, singers, and musicians-who keep his films feeling current. For him, newcomers bring authenticity and drive evolution in his work. Visit Yash Raj Films for updates on their latest releases.
Music That Hits the Heart
Suri spent over five years crafting the music of Saiyaara. He likens his process to “collecting books,” carefully choosing melodies, lyrics, and singers. This album brings out raw emotion and beautifully supports the film’s romantic drama.
Humble Beginnings & Faith
Ahaan Panday, Bollywood star Ananya Panday’s cousin, thanked the creative team in a heartfelt message. He also shared an emotional hug with Mohit Suri in a video that captivated fans. To seek blessings before the film’s release, Ahaan and Aneet visited Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai-showing their humility and respect.
From record advance bookings to strong reviews and soulful music, Saiyaara is off to a flying start. With its fresh cast, Mohit Suri’s distinct style, and a heartfelt love story, this film looks set to deliver a ₹20-25 crore opening-and maybe more!
Don’t miss it in theaters today. Let the love, music, and drama begin!