Bollywood director Mohit Suri is set to make a grand return to the romantic genre with Saiyaara, a musical drama backed by Yash Raj Films. The film stars newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in lead roles and is already making waves in the industry with its strong advance booking numbers. Slated for a theatrical release on 18 July, Saiyaara is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated box office openings of the year.

A promising start

According to early trade estimates, Saiyaara is tracking for a double-digit opening, with day-one earnings projected between ₹10-12 crore, and some optimistic predictions going as high as ₹15-20 crore. As of Thursday morning, the film had already raked in over ₹2.6 crore in advance bookings, with more than 12 hours left for day-one pre-sales.

This performance is unprecedented for a romantic film led by debutants. For context, even Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, released just last month, opened at ₹11.50 crore -- and that too with the actor’s star power behind it.

Record-breaking potential

If the current projections hold, Saiyaara is poised to break the record for the highest opening-day collection by a Hindi film featuring debutant leads. That record is currently held by Dhadak (2018), starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, which earned ₹8.76 crore on its first day.

Even more significantly, Saiyaara could challenge a 25-year-old record set by Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel’s Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. That 2000 film sold approximately 4 lakh tickets on opening day -- a record that no other debutant-led film has matched since. With over 1 lakh tickets already sold in advance for day one, Saiyaara is estimated to attract 4-6 lakh footfalls, potentially establishing a new benchmark.

Buzz or hype?

The response from trade insiders has been a mix of surprise and cautious optimism. Veteran trade analyst Atul Mohan acknowledged the unusual buzz, saying, “There is hype, for sure. The trailer was good, and the title track clicked. But the hype defies logic. Some small-town centres are sold out, but major city screens still have seats.”

While some insiders suggest the buzz may have been inflated through overzealous reporting, others confirm that Saiyaara has struck a chord with younger viewers, particularly under-30 audiences.

For YRF and its CEO Akshaye Widhani, Saiyaara represents both a calculated risk and a potential game-changer — a chance to re-energize the romantic musical genre with fresh faces and a strong emotional core. Directed by Mohit Suri, known for hits like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain, the film could mark a new chapter in Bollywood's evolving post-pandemic box office landscape.