'Saiyaara' Day 1 Box Office: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s Debut Film Opens with a Bang, Collects ₹19.6 Crore

Mohit Suri’s latest romantic drama Saiyaara has taken a flying start at the box office, delivering an impressive opening day collection that has set a new benchmark for films led by debut actors. Starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film has earned a staggering ₹19.6 crore on its first day of release across India, according to early estimates reported by Sacnilk.

The film, which generated considerable buzz prior to its release, has become one of the biggest openers of 2025 so far—outperforming several star-studded releases. It has surpassed opening day numbers of Sitaare Zameen Par (₹10.7 crore) starring Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar's Sky Force (₹12.25 crore), despite those films benefitting from holiday weekends and established star power.

With an overall Hindi occupancy of 44.33% on Friday, Saiyaara has now set a new record for the highest day-one earnings by a Hindi film featuring debut leads. This record was previously held by Dhadak (2018), which marked the acting debut of Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter with a ₹8.76 crore opening.

The film is directed by Mohit Suri and produced under the Yash Raj Films banner by CEO Akshaye Widhani. Post-release, the music of Saiyaara, particularly its title track, has gone viral on social media, further amplifying the film’s reach among younger audiences.

Critical response has been equally encouraging. As noted in a review by Hindustan Times, "Saiyaara may not break new ground in terms of storytelling, but it strikes the right emotional chords. It’s a film that understands its audience and delivers with sincerity. It offers just enough to make you feel—and that, sometimes, is more than enough.”

The strong performance of Saiyaara marks a significant moment in Bollywood, showing that well-made romantic dramas with fresh faces can still connect with the audience in a big way. With a solid opening and positive word of mouth, the film now has momentum on its side heading into the weekend.