'Saiyaara' Breaks Records: Ahaan-Aneet's Debut Sparks Frenzy As Theatres Boom With Whistles, Cheers

Mohit Suri’s latest directorial venture, Saiyaara, starring debut artists Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has officially become Gen Z’s Aashiqui. The film hit theatres on July 18, 2025, and on its opening day, it broke box office records, minting a massive Rs. 21 crore. After its grand premiere, the audience frenzy is nothing short of a phenomenon. In less than 48 hours, Saiyaara has unexpectedly turned regular cinema halls into buzzing concert arenas, with videos of fans dancing, singing, screaming, and even stripping their shirts off going viral online.

Fans strip their shirts off as theatres roar in cheers and whistles for Saiyaara

Videos from different parts of India have taken the internet by storm; from PVRs in Delhi to packed houses in Meerut, the crowd’s reaction to Ahaan and Aneet’s Saiyaara has been electric. One particularly viral clip comes from Meerut’s PVS Mall, where crowds of young fans can be seen getting up from their seats to chant the title song. As if attending a rock concert, the fans can be seen singing and turning on their flashlights.

One fan could also be seen dancing shirtless in front of the screen, echoing the same Bollywood mania the industry hasn’t seen since blockbusters like Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai (2000) and Aashiqui 2 (2013). The clips have since stirred a mixed bag of reactions online. Some netizens were quick to call it a PR stunt, but the sheer number of organic reactions flooding Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) suggests otherwise.

Some netizens even claimed that they went to the theatres knowing they would hate it, but ended up loving it, and the energy in the cinema halls was infectious. One user wrote on Reddit:

“Watched the movie just, I should not lie but the story is soo good and actors have done a fair job with the roles, it will make you emotional.”

We also stumbled across a popular Reddit thread where one user wrote, “With all the chatter, tweets and news about the movie, it makes me wonder, is it really PR? Like, even Rahul Desai gave it a good review, and that guy never does it. It can't be that all is PR, there has to be some truth to the hype.” In response, another netizen wrote, “Nah bro hype is real af...my friends are sharing videos of while theatre whistling, singing and clapping. Those who don't even keep up with Bollywood, too, are going now.”

Watch the video here.

Saiyaara generates groundbreaking revenue on Day 1

Saiyaara’s immediate box office success is something beyond imagination for films that launch newcomers from within the industry. With Ananya Panday’s cousin Ahaan’s debut performance, sceptics who initially dismissed the film as another nepo baby launchpad have found themselves eating their words. Viewers and critics are already comparing Ahaan’s brooding performance to early Hrithik Roshan, while Aneet’s grounded portrayal is being lauded as 'refreshing'.

Without any A-listers, no festival weekend, and almost zero pre-release promotions or city tours, Saiyaara grossed a staggering Rs. 21.25 crore on its opening day, setting a new record for films starring debut actors. Trade analyst and online film critic Taran Adarsh has described it as “a wake-up call for the industry obsessed with star power over substance.” With this opening, Saiyaara is now predicted to easily surpass Rs. 130 crore and be declared a blockbuster.

So, are you booking Saiyaara as your weekend watch?

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