Bollywood witnessed a sensational debut as Saiyaara, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, stormed into theaters on July 18 and stunned everyone with its Day 1 box office collection. Co-directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Studios, this musical romantic drama was able to rake in a whopping ₹20 crore on its first day, an unprecedented achievement given that both the lead actors are debutants.
The trailer of the film had created curiosity among the audience, and the film did well once released, receiving a good response in regions. Industry monitor Sacnilk reported Saiyaara received more than 7000 shows in India on the opening day, with the average occupancy standing at 49.9%. Morning shows were at 35.51% occupancy, and the afternoon bettered this to 46.62%. Evening and night shows reached 50.85% and 66.62%, respectively. In Delhi-NCR, the movie played across over 800 shows with 60% average occupancy, whereas Mumbai saw nearly 650 shows with about 43% seat occupancy.
These figures make Saiyaara the fourth-largest Hindi opener of 2025, preceded only by Chhaava (₹31 crore), Sikandar (₹26 crore), and Housefull 5 (₹24 crore). No one expected such a strong theatrical opening from two newcomers, but Saiyaara has proven that content backed by good music and an emotional storyline still resonates strongly with audiences.
In fact, the movie has outperformed several major releases this year. Let’s take a look at the eight big films it has already surpassed on Day 1:
1. Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2
The action-packed sequel was considered one of Devgn’s big hits of the year, but its Day 1 collection stood at ₹19.71 crore, just below Saiyaara.
2. Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force
This patriotic drama, featuring debutant Veer Pahariya, earned ₹12.25 crore on its opening day.
Despite its genre and Akshay’s fanbase, it couldn’t match Saiyaara’s numbers.
3. Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par
Post Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir’s emotional family drama collected ₹10.7 crore on its first day, just about half of what Saiyaara managed.
4. Sunny Deol’s Jaat
With its desi action entertainer vibe, Jaat earned ₹9.5 crore on Day 1 but still lagged behind this fresh debut.
5. Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh
Starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, this historical drama earned ₹7.75 crore on its opening day.
6. Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi’s Bhool Chuk Maaf
A quirky rom-com that received decent feedback, it opened at ₹7.20 crore.
7. Metro… In Dino
Another ensemble romantic drama that had moderate buzz but only managed ₹4.05 crore.
8. Maalik
Released around the same time, this drama also collected approximately ₹4 crore on its opening day.
Even more notably, Ahaan Panday has surpassed the debuts of several other star kids.
Back in 2014, Tiger Shroff’s Heropanti earned ₹6.55 crore on Day 1. His cousin Ananya Panday’s Student of the Year 2 opened at ₹12.06 crore under Dharma Productions. In comparison, Ahaan’s ₹20 crore debut is monumental and sets a new benchmark for newcomers.
Aneet Padda, though not entirely new to the screen, having appeared in Big Girls Don’t Cry and Salaam Venky, showed remarkable screen presence in her first major Bollywood outing. Their on-screen chemistry, coupled with Mohit Suri’s signature romantic-emotional direction and a melodic soundtrack, played a significant role in drawing crowds.
Decent pre-release reviews had come in from critics, and the promotional campaigns had also appeared to be working. But nothing short of magic could have foreseen the huge opening. Undoubtedly, Saiyaara resonated deeply with viewers, combining tender romance, vibrant youth appeal, and the nostalgic essence of classic Bollywood music.
The success of the film also supports Yash Raj Studios’ track record of debuting fresh faces with the appropriate creative framework. Ahaan may be a star kid, but box office numbers like these cannot simply be credited to legacy alone. It takes a good story, memorable music, and honest performances to pull the crowd, and Saiyaara had all three.
Trade experts are now optimistic about the film’s weekend prospects. With such a grand opening, industry watchers expect the film to maintain strong momentum across its first weekend. If positive word-of-mouth continues, Saiyaara might well become the breakout romantic hit of the year.
For Mohit Suri, this marks a return to form. Known for hits like Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, and Malang, he once again proves he can capture youth sentiment and deliver crowd-pleasing romance and drama. For Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, this is more than just a good start; this is the stuff dreams are made of.
With ₹20 crore on Day 1, Saiyaara isn’t just a debut; it’s a declaration. Bollywood has found its next big pair, and their journey has begun with a bang.