Ahaan Panday's film, Saiyaara, Reigns Unchallenged at the Box Office during its Initial Twenty-Day Period without Ticket Charges
In the bustling world of Bollywood, a new star has risen, and its name is Saiyaara. Ahaan Panday's debut film has been making waves since its release in 2025, becoming a major box office success and one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of the year.
Within just 18 days of its release, Saiyaara has grossed approximately Rs. 502.4 crore worldwide. Domestically, it earned an impressive Rs. 373.11 crore, while overseas markets added an additional Rs. 129.29 crore to its total. This impressive performance places Saiyaara second worldwide behind Chhaava, but with a significant lead in overseas earnings.
Saiyaara has surpassed the international collection of Chhaava's Rs. 91 crore within 12 days, reaching Rs. 94 crore overseas, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film internationally in 2025. It has also outperformed landmark previous hits such as Padmaavat (2018) and is on track to eclipse Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015).
The film's success is attributed to strong word of mouth, repeat viewings, and robust theater attendance, which is unusual for a film led by debutant actors. Saiyaara has been declared the highest-grossing romantic love story in Indian cinema history by producer Yash Raj Films.
The strategic release timing of Saiyaara has ensured minimal competition and maximized its box office potential. Sarzameen and Param Sundari have been delayed or opted for digital premieres, avoiding a clash with Saiyaara. Anupam Kher's Tanvi the Great, which released on the same day, failed to dent Saiyaara's dominance.
The film's only challenge comes from the Hollywood giant, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, industry trade analysts predict that Saiyaara's box office performance could influence future release calendars, as producers seek solo windows to replicate its success.
Saiyaara has rewritten Bollywood's box office playbook with a two-week free theatrical run. Major August releases like Son of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 are expected to engage in a fierce battle for audience attention, riding on the wave of Saiyaara's success.
The film's success highlights the growing divide between theatrical and OTT releases, with Saiyaara demonstrating the power of theatrical releases supported by strong content, star-making potential, and strategic timing. The success of Saiyaara may lead to a rise of a new generation of stars and storytellers in Bollywood.
In this dynamic arena of movies and television entertainment, Saiyaara's worldwide success has propelled it into a leading position, bankrolling impressive earnings and challenging the status quo. This groundbreaking romantic love story, with significant overseas earnings exceeding those of Chhaava and other landmark films, has showcased the potential of strategic theatrical releases in the industry.
