Yash Raj Films and Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara took a historic opening for a film introducing new faces, with a net collection of Rs. 21.25 crore in India on the first day, turning Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda into overnight stars and sweethearts of the entire nation.
Some of the new records created by the musical romance are:
– This is the biggest ever opening day net box-office collection for a film starring newcomers in the lead.
– It also marks the all-time biggest opening day for an out-and-out love story in Indian cinema.
– Highest opening day ticket sales post-2000 for a newcomers’ film.
– Maximum tickets sold on Day 1 for any film introducing new talent in the last 25 years since Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai (2000) and Refugee (2000).
– It marks the best opening for director Mohit Suri in his entire career so far.
– Highest opening day for a love story post-pandemic.
– First love story to cross Rs. 20 crore net in a single day post-COVID.
– The most creditable part is that the film achieved these numbers with just 8,000 shows across India — less than half the average 18,000 shows typically required for a Rs. 20 crore-plus opening.
– Major national multiplex chains reported sold-out shows across key markets on Day 1.
All the above feats were achieved without the new actors, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, being opened up to public gaze and without any traditional publicity and marketing approach. In other words, there was not a single interview in which Ahaan or Aneet appeared, no city tours, no reels, no influencer content, no visibility. The producers simply relied on the power of strong content marketed to the entire nation.