After months of teasers, soulful music, and a trailer that promised an intense emotional roller-coaster, Mohit Suri’s much-anticipated romantic drama, Saiyaara, hits the big screens today, July 18, 2025. There’s a palpable buzz in the air, especially with debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda leading the charge.
But the big question on everyone’s mind is: Will Saiyaara truly live up to the massive hype it has built?
Even as we’re writing this blog, the hype has already been massive, over 314K people have marked themselves ‘interested’ on BookMyShow, and the bookings haven’t even officially opened yet.
The Genesis of ‘Saiyaara’: A Musical Love Story Reimagined
Mohit Suri, the maestro of musical romances, has a knack for weaving heartbreakingly beautiful love stories that stay with you long after the credits roll. Think Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, Malang – his films are synonymous with chart-topping music and intense emotional narratives. Saiyaara is no exception. In fact, it was initially conceived as the next chapter in his “Aashiqui” universe, hinting at a similar emotional depth and musical richness.
The title Saiyaara itself holds a beautiful meaning. It’s an Urdu term, often translated as “wanderer” or “planet,” evoking a celestial metaphor for lovers drawn together across vast distances, destined to orbit each other.
This poetic essence is at the very heart of the film’s concept.
As Mohit Suri himself revealed in an interview,
“I always felt that when you listen to a romantic dhun, usually, or any other dhun, it always takes you back to a moment, whether it is the first rain, first love, first meeting, friendship or anything else. I think that music, love, and memories are connected to each other. I found this idea very intriguing.”
This statement truly captures the philosophy behind the film.
“Saiyara” is entering the market with significant positive momentum, driven by its musical appeal, the director’s reputation, and the fresh pairing of its debutant lead actors. The strong advance bookings suggest a promising opening at the box office.
The Plot: A Tumultuous Journey of Love and Healing
Saiyaara promises an intense young romance, exploring themes of passion, separation, and emotional healing. The story revolves around Krrish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a rebellious rockstar haunted by his past, and Siya Mehra (Aneet Padda), a grounded songwriter whose compassion unexpectedly unlocks Krrish’s vulnerability. Their paths cross amidst Mumbai’s vibrant music scene, igniting a love that challenges their inner demons and external pressures.
The trailer gives us glimpses of their euphoric highs, passionate performances, moonlit confessions, and exhilarating bike rides, contrasted with crushing lows of heartbreak, distance, and the relentless quest for purpose. Krrish’s anger issues and Siya’s fear of loss create a push-pull dynamic that constantly tests their commitment.
It’s a tale of two flawed individuals discovering that love can be both their greatest mistake and their ultimate salvation.
The makers describe it as “An intense love story that will break your heart and heal it too.”
The Fresh Faces: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda
One of the biggest talking points around Saiyaara is the grand debut of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Both young actors are stepping into the challenging world of Bollywood with a Mohit Suri film, known for extracting raw emotions from his actors.
Ahaan Panday, Ananya Panday’s cousin, has been in the news for a while, and his debut has been highly anticipated. From the trailer, he seems to embody the rebellious rockstar persona with a certain intensity.
Initial reactions from netizens to the trailer praised Ahaan, with some saying he “looks promising” and is “genuinely trying unlike other nepodas.” His rumored ex-girlfriend, Tara Sutaria, even took to Instagram to show her support, commenting, “Ahaan Panday, you are unreal. It’s your time now.”
Aneet Padda, who impressed audiences with her performance in the web series Big Girls Don’t Cry, brings a fresh face and a grounded presence to the screen. Her role as a compassionate songwriter promises to be emotionally rich. While some early reactions online have been mixed regarding her expressions, many are rooting for her, acknowledging her talent and unique screen presence.
Mohit Suri himself has expressed immense confidence in his lead pair. He candidly shared that he almost scrapped the idea of making Saiyaara with newcomers because he hadn’t found actors with the required calibre.
However, Ahaan and Aneet’s auditions changed his mind. “I wouldn’t have made Saiyaara if I hadn’t found formidable actors like Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. I was honestly thinking about making something else before my path crossed with Yash Raj Films, which was looking for a young love story and was grooming Ahaan and Aneet to star in such a film,” he stated.
He was “blown away” by their sincerity, talent, and emotional depth, convinced they were the perfect fit to bring his vision to life.
The Music: The Soul of ‘Saiyaara’
It’s a Mohit Suri film, so you know the music is going to be a highlight! And Saiyaara has delivered on this front, with its soundtrack already making waves. The film boasts a powerhouse team of music composers and lyricists, including Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Rishabh Kant, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, and Irshad Kamil.
Here are some of the popular tracks released so far, along with their YouTube links, so you can soak in the musical magic:
- “Saiyaara” (Title Track): This is the heart of the album, setting the emotional tone.
- “Saiyaara Reprise – Female” Full Song Audio: Sung by the legendary Shreya Ghoshal.
- “Humsafar”: Another emotional track from the film.
Early Buzz & Critic Expectations
While official critic reviews will start pouring in today, there’s already some early buzz from those who’ve had a sneak peek or are commenting on the censor reports.
💔 #SaiyaaraReview 🎬 Just Watched Movie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda deliver a raw & refreshing debut.
🎶 Music is the SOUL – haunting, emotional, unforgettable.
🎥 Mohit Suri brings back the Aashiqui magic with a new-age twist.✅ Beautiful chemistry
✅… pic.twitter.com/uZbSffpFgq— Ravi Chaudhary (@BURN4DESIRE1) July 16, 2025
The actor-turned-critic Kuldeep Gadhvi, called Saiyaara a “total paisa vasool experience” that will “grip you from beginning to end.” He particularly praised Ahaan and Aneet’s debut performances, noting their “bold and beautiful debut” and chemistry that “lights up the screen.”
He also highlighted the film’s “phenomenal, emotional, and extremely relatable narrative” and its status as a “tremendous musical saga.” Gadhvi even gave Saiyaara a solid 4.5-star rating!
Mohit Suri, ever the pragmatist, is aware of the comparisons to his previous works, especially Aashiqui 2. He told Firstpost, “When I made Zeher, they said it looked like Murder. When I made Ek Villain, they said it looked like Murder 2… So I think when I go ahead and make my next film, they’ll say it looks like Saiyaara. I think when they’re comparing it to my own work rather than somebody else’s, it’s good.”
Mahesh Bhatt also weighed in on the new-age romance in Saiyaara, stating, “It is amazing to see that people have the nostalgia of Aashiqui when they are seeing Saiyaara.” This sentiment further fuels the belief that Saiyaara might just be the emotional, musical treat fans have been craving.
The CBFC has reportedly ordered some cuts, including a 10-second intimate scene and four “objectionable” words. While such cuts are routine, it’s a minor point that has been reported.
The Verdict So Far: Will It Live Up?
Based on the strong musical foundation, the emotional depth promised by the plot, the refreshing chemistry of the debutants, and Mohit Suri’s proven track record, Saiyaara certainly has all the ingredients for a successful romantic drama. The early reviews are overwhelmingly positive, suggesting that Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda have indeed delivered ‘raw and refreshing’ performances, and Mohit Suri has, as expected, woven his ‘Aashiqui’ magic.
The hype is real, and it seems justified. While the ultimate judgment rests with the audience, all signs point to Saiyaara being a heartfelt, musical journey that might just break your heart and heal it, too.
So, so, so, grab your popcorn, book your tickets, and get ready to experience the magic of Saiyaara on the big screen!
