"Saiyaara" Breaks the Mold: Indian Film Expands Theatres Following Record-Breaking Debut Week

Yash Raj Films' recent romantic production, "Saiyaara", is resetting standards for Indian theatrical releases. In a move that defies industry trends, the film saw an increase - not the common decrease - in screen counts in its second week of release. Initially launched in 2,225 theatres, the Mohit Suri-helmed film has swelled to an impressive 3,650 screens, riding on the wave of a red-hot box office run. With a whopping $29.5 million collection in its first week ($5 million from the international market), it's clear why "Saiyaara" is making industry analysts sit up and take note.

The film features the debut of Ahaan Panday and rising star Aneet Padda, best known for her role in the Prime Video series "Big Girls Don't Cry". The story follows their characters Krish Kapoor - an ambitious up-and-coming musician - and Vaani Batra - a talented and principled songwriter, as they navigate their rising careers and budding romance.

In its home country, "Saiyaara" quickly climbed to the second-highest opening weekend record of the year, surpassed only by "Chhaava", which currently holds the crown of 2025's top-grossing Indian film. "Saiyaara" continues to dominate the box office regardless, turning its leads into Gen Z heartthrobs in India and marking one of the biggest debutant-led openings in the history of Indian cinema. The box office results of "Saiyaara" are indeed reminiscent of the notable debuts in early 2000’s films "Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai" and "Refugee", effectively carving a niche for itself in the record books.

Facing up to competition from the newly released “Mahavatar Narsimha,” “Hari Hara Veera Mallu – Part 1 Sword vs Spirit,” and Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” only time will tell if "Saiyaara" maintains its momentum in the coming weeks.