Saiyaara Becomes Highest-Grossing Indian Romantic Film, Streams on Netflix After ₹570 Crore Run

Mohit Suri’s romantic musical Saiyaara has concluded its theatrical run as the highest-grossing Indian romantic film of all time. The Yash Raj Films production, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, grossed ₹570 crore worldwide after releasing in theatres on 18 July 2025.

The film, produced on a budget of ₹45 crore, emerged as a major commercial success. It collected ₹329 crore net in India and ₹171 crore overseas, selling approximately 1.85 crore tickets domestically.

Saiyaara was released theatrically on 18 July 2025 in Hindi. The film runs 156 minutes and carries a UA certificate. It is loosely based on the 2004 South Korean film A Moment to Remember.

A Story of Love and Memory Loss

The plot follows Vaani Batra, a perceptive writer recovering from being abandoned at the altar by her college boyfriend Mahesh. She meets Krish Kapoor, a brash and struggling musician coping with childhood trauma and anger issues.

Vaani writes poems and songs, including one titled Saiyaara, which refers to a star in constant movement. Krish discovers her notebook and is drawn to the honesty of her work. They begin collaborating on music, and their partnership grows into a deep romantic bond.

Their happiness is shattered when Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As her memory begins to fade, Krish must choose between his rising career and staying by her side.

Cast and Production

Ahaan Panday stars as Krish Kapoor, marking his acting debut. Aneet Padda plays Vaani Batra. The supporting cast includes Geeta Agarwal, Rajesh Kumar, Varun Badola, Anngad Raaj, Shaad Randhawa, Sid Makkar, Alam Khan, and Shaan R Grover.

The film was directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Akshaye Widhani under the Yash Raj Films banner. Aditya Chopra presented the film. Sankalp Sadanah wrote the story and screenplay, with Rohan Shankar penning the dialogues.

Vikas Sivaraman served as the director of photography. Rohit Makwana and Devendra Murdeshwar handled editing. The film marks the first collaboration between Mohit Suri and Yash Raj Films.

Music and Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Rishabh Kant, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami. Lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil, Mithoon, Rishabh Kant, and Raj Shekhar. John Stewart Eduri composed the background score.

The title track, rendered by Faheem Abdullah and composed by Tanishk Bagchi with Abdullah and Arslan Nizami, became a global hit. It entered the top 10 of Spotify’s Top 50 Global Chart and the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Mohit Suri said in an interview that music serves as the screenplay for his films. ‘I will not shoot a single day until I have all my songs ready,’ he said. ‘That’s just something I need, especially on a film like Saiyaara.’

Mithoon, who collaborated with Suri after two decades, said the art remains bigger than the artists. ‘We are still seekers,’ he said. ‘The art is bigger than us, and we continue to protect its sanctity.’

Critical Reception and Box Office

Saiyaara opened to positive reviews from critics. The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5, calling it ‘a visually lush, emotive, and melody-driven experience.’ The Hindu praised the lead pair, stating that Ahaan Panday ‘has a mercurial screen presence’ while Aneet Padda ‘displays substantial dramatic depth in a complex role.’

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared his thoughts on the film after its Netflix release. He described the Alzheimer’s portrayal as ‘a metaphor’ and ‘a device for conflict, drama, and memory.’ He added that ‘Saiyaara reminds you why Bollywood once worked so beautifully.’

The film set multiple box office records. It recorded the highest opening for a debutant-led Indian film with ₹21.25 crore net on day one. It also achieved the highest opening weekend for a debutant-led Indian film at ₹83.25 crore net.

Saiyaara became the second-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2025 after Chhaava. It is the highest-grossing Indian romantic film, surpassing Kabir Singh’s lifetime haul of ₹377 crore.

OTT Release and Streaming Success

Saiyaara premiered on Netflix on 12 September 2025, two months after its theatrical release. The film is available in Hindi with English subtitles across more than 190 countries.

Within its first week on Netflix, Saiyaara became the top non-English global film on the platform. It logged millions of viewing hours and topped charts worldwide.

Director Mohit Suri said about the streaming release, ‘Saiyaara will always be a very special film for me, and the way audiences embraced it in theatres globally was truly incredible. As the film begins its journey on Netflix, I’m excited that more people will now get to discover Krish and Vaani’s love story.’

Monika Shergill, Vice-President Content at Netflix India, stated, ‘Saiyaara’s success has taken it beyond the box office to becoming a true cultural phenomenon. It has brought audiences unforgettable music and a deeply touching story of love, loss and destiny.’

Debutant Stars and Audience Response

Ahaan Panday, nephew of actor Chunky Panday and cousin of Ananya Panday, made his acting debut with Saiyaara. He had faced years of shelved projects before landing the role. In an interview, he said, ‘Have I felt wronged by people? Yes, I have. It wouldn’t be right for me to get personal about that though, but as an actor that’s where you take inspiration from.’

Speaking about his connection to the character Krish, Panday said, ‘I honestly feel we have all had a Krish within us, with all the baggage of over the years. Love is far from perfect. Love is beautiful, yet it’s raw and angst-ridden.’

Aneet Padda, who previously appeared in the web series Big Girls Don’t Cry and the film Salaam Venky, played Vaani. She revealed that her grandfather has Alzheimer’s disease, which made the film more emotional for her. ‘He doesn’t remember my name; he doesn’t remember most, but he calls me Heeraput, or Makkhan,’ she said.

The film also sparked conversations about early-onset Alzheimer’s. Medical experts noted that the portrayal contained exaggerations, as Alzheimer’s rarely appears before the age of 40. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta described the condition in the film as a narrative device rather than a medical condition.

Saiyaara has been re-released in theatres ahead of Valentine’s Day in major Indian cities. The film continues to stream on Netflix.