The romantic musical drama "Saiyaara," directed by Mohit Suri and starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has become a surprise hit at the box office, achieving a spot in the Top 50 Biggest Hits of Hindi Cinema within its second weekend. The film's success is attributed to positive word-of-mouth, a strong connection with youth, and chart-topping music.

Box Office Performance

As of its ninth day in theaters, "Saiyaara" has crossed the ₹200 crore mark, with early estimates suggesting a collection of ₹206.07 crore. The film's first-week earnings were an impressive ₹172.75 crore. In its second week, "Saiyaara" continued its strong performance, earning ₹18 crore on its second Friday. On its eighth day, the movie minted ₹18 crore, bringing its total to ₹190.75 crore. Sacnilk estimates that the second weekend collection will be around ₹70 crore.

The film has shown consistent occupancy rates, with an overall occupancy of 31.43%. Morning shows had 20.80% occupancy, which increased to 42.06% for afternoon shows on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Worldwide, "Saiyaara" has grossed ₹280.62 crore, including ₹52 crore from overseas markets.

Comparisons with Other Films

"Saiyaara" has surpassed several high-profile films in terms of domestic collections, including "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani," "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2," and "Bajirao Mastani". It has also outperformed Aamir Khan's "Sitaare Zameen Par" and Ajay Devgn's "Raid 2".

The film's first Monday collections were ₹24.25 crore, making it the 15th highest first Monday grosser ever, surpassing Vicky Kaushal's "Chhaava". However, it still trails behind films like "Sanju," "K.G.F: Chapter 2," "Dangal," "Pathaan," and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" in this regard.

Factors Contributing to Success

Several factors have contributed to the unexpected success of "Saiyaara":

• Fresh Faces: The film stars newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, who have been well-received by audiences.
• Emotional Storytelling: "Saiyaara" has resonated with audiences due to its emotional narrative and stylish execution. It is being hailed as an old-school emotional love story.
• Music: The film features chart-topping music that has contributed to its popularity.
• Word-of-Mouth: Strong word-of-mouth has played a significant role in attracting viewers to the theaters.
• Low-Profile Promotion: YRF and Mohit Suri adopted a low-profile promotional strategy, keeping the debutants away from the media spotlight to build intrigue around the film.
• Pan-India Appeal: The film has cultivated a widespread pan-India appeal, with strong interest in urban centers like Chennai and Bengaluru.

Records Broken

• "Saiyaara" has become the second biggest hit of 2025, surpassing Akshay Kumar's "Housefull 5" in just eight days.
• It has emerged as the highest-grossing romantic film in the post-COVID era.
• The film has delivered one of the biggest openings for a newcomer-led film in Indian cinema history.
• "Saiyaara" has beaten the lifetime collection of "Raid 2".

With its consistent collections and strong regional performance, "Saiyaara" is expected to continue its successful run.