In a world where Bollywood often feels predictable, where star kids get launches worth hundreds of crores and established names dominate the box office conversation, Saiyaara has arrived like a gentle breeze that turned into a hurricane.
This isn’t just another success story – it’s a testament to the magic that happens when raw talent, authentic storytelling, and pure emotion collide at exactly the right moment.
As I write this, the film is enjoying something unprecedented in modern Bollywood: a completely free two-week run at theaters with no Hindi competition.
It’s the kind of golden opportunity that even seasoned superstars would kill for, yet here it is, handed to two newcomers whose names most of us couldn’t pronounce correctly just a week ago.
The Numbers That Made Everyone Stop and Stare
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the ₹132.25 crore elephant that’s dancing joyfully in theaters across the country.
When Saiyaara released on July 18, nobody – and I mean nobody – expected what was coming.
Box Office Breakdown That Defied All Logic
| Day | Collection | What Actually Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Friday) | ₹21.5 crore | Industry insiders called it “decent for newcomers” |
| Day 2 (Saturday) | ₹26 crore | Suddenly, everyone was paying attention |
| Day 3 (Sunday) | ₹35.75 crore | The film peaked – or so we thought |
| Day 4 (Monday) | ₹24 crore | A “healthy” drop that still impressed |
| Day 5 (Tuesday) | ₹25 crore | Wait, it went UP on a Tuesday?! |
The most jaw-dropping moment? Tuesday’s collections actually surpassed Monday’s.
In an industry where Tuesday is typically the graveyard for box office dreams, Saiyaara decided to throw a party instead.
“Nobody expected the film to do this business, but the kind of euphoria it has created in theatres is just unprecedented.” – Industry observer
The Voice That Started It All: Faheem Abdullah’s Unlikely Journey
Before Ahaan Panday became a household name, before the box office registers started ringing non-stop,
there was a young man from Kashmir who had already captured hearts on Instagram without most people even knowing his real name.
Faheem Abdullah – the voice behind Saiyaara’s soul-stirring title track – was Instagram-famous long before this film made him Bollywood-famous.
You know that song “Ishq” that had you scrolling through endless reels in 2024? The one with lyrics “Main aa likhoon, tu aa jaye” that made your heart ache with beautiful longing? That was Faheem, performing under his stage name “The Imaginary Poet”.
From 14 Days of Savings to Bollywood Dreams
The story of how Faheem and his musical partner Arslan Nizami made it to Mumbai reads like a script itself.
They quit their jobs in Kashmir, pooled together savings that would last exactly 14 days in Mumbai, and took the biggest gamble of their lives.
On the 13th day – literally their last day before having to return home defeated – they met music composer Tanishk Bagchi who was working on the Saiyaara album.
Sometimes the universe has a sense of timing that’s better than any Bollywood director.
“It is an honour to represent Kashmir in the Hindi film industry with our musical debut in Saiyaara! I’m really happy that two Kashmiri boys have worked really hard to land this project of a lifetime.” – Faheem Abdullah
The emotional weight of this journey isn’t lost on anyone who’s ever chased an impossible dream.
Here were two artists from a region often overlooked by mainstream Bollywood, betting everything on talent and hope.
The Cinderella Story of Ahaan and Aneet
While Faheem was conquering hearts through sound, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda were preparing for their own leap into the unknown.
And honestly, their casting story is almost as dramatic as the film itself.
When First Impressions Go Horribly Wrong
Director Mohit Suri recently revealed something that should give hope to every person who’s ever bombed an interview:
both lead actors failed their first auditions spectacularly.
Aneet Padda’s first meeting with Suri was, in his own words, “disastrously bad”.
But here’s where the story gets beautiful – Ahaan Panday, despite his own uncertain first audition, fought for his co-star.
He literally told the director, “Give her another chance. I’m telling you she’s good… I’ve done a scene with her”.
When Aneet returned for her second audition, she showed up in a simple white shirt and jeans. Suri took one look and said, “This is it.” Her casual, authentic energy became the foundation of her character.
“She came in a white loose shirt and jeans. And I was like ‘this is it.’ If you noticed the trailer, this is that casual and authentic look. Her look, lost and clumsy. And that’s what she is.” – Mohit Suri
The Golden Ticket: A Free Two-Week Run
In what can only be described as divine intervention for Team Saiyaara, the film is now enjoying something that money can’t buy: complete market dominance for two entire weeks.
The Competition That Vanished
- Son of Sardaar 2 (Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt) was supposed to release July 25 but got pushed to August 1 to avoid the “Saiyaara wave”
- Param Sundari (Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor) mysteriously didn’t release on its scheduled date
- Sarzameen (Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran) went straight to streaming instead of theaters
The only competition? The Fantastic Four: First Steps – a $200 million Hollywood Marvel film.
That’s like David getting the entire battlefield to himself while Goliath shows up with a different army entirely.
Breaking Records That Seemed Impossible
The achievements keep piling up like scenes from a feel-good sports movie:
- Highest opening weekend for a love story ever
- Biggest opening day for a film with newcomers
- 5th highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 (and climbing)
- Surpassed Salman Khan’s Sikandar’s first four days
- Beat Aashiqui 2’s lifetime collection in just 4 days
Let that last one sink in. Aashiqui 2, the film that defined modern romantic cinema, took its entire theatrical run to earn what Saiyaara made in four days.
The Emotional Core That Refuses to Let Go
Beyond the numbers and records lies the real magic: this film is making people feel again.
In an era of superhero fatigue and franchise formulas, Saiyaara dared to be simple, authentic, and emotionally honest.
The story of Krish (Ahaan), a passionate singer, and Vaani (Aneet), a shy songwriter, coming together to create music that turns into love, resonates because it’s real.
Their collaboration becomes their love story – and isn’t that the most beautiful metaphor for any relationship?
The Album That Conquered Before the Film
Even before the movie released, Saiyaara’s music was already being called “the best album of the year“:
- Saiyaara (Title Track) by Faheem Abdullah & Arslan Nizami
- Barbaad by Jubin Nautiyal
- Tum Ho Toh by Vishal Mishra
- Humsafar by Sachet-Parampara
- Dhun by Arijit Singh & Mithoon
Each song carries the emotional weight of the story, but it’s Faheem’s title track that’s become the heartbeat of the entire phenomenon.
What This Success Really Means
In an industry often criticized for nepotism and formulaic content, Saiyaara’s success feels like validation for everyone who believes in the power of authentic storytelling.
It’s proof that audiences are hungry for genuine emotion, that newcomers can indeed move mountains, and that sometimes the most beautiful stories come from the most unexpected places.
Faheem Abdullah represents every independent artist who’s ever posted their work online hoping someone, somewhere would listen. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda represent every dreamer who’s ever faced rejection but refused to give up.
Mohit Suri represents every filmmaker who chooses heart over formula.
As the film prepares for its extended theatrical run with virtually no competition, one thing is clear: Saiyaara isn’t just a movie anymore.
It’s a movement. It’s proof that in a world of manufactured content, authentic emotion will always find its way to hearts that are ready to feel.
The next two weeks will determine whether this beautiful story becomes a chapter in Bollywood history or just a footnote.
But honestly? After everything this film and its creators have already accomplished, they’ve already won the only prize that truly matters – they’ve made us believe in magic again.
