Saiyaara (2025) Bollywood Movie Review

Today, a movie has been released in theaters called Saiyaara. And I’ll be honest – I wasn’t particularly interested in it. No hype, no big names, not even one familiar face on the poster that would make you say, “Oh, I’ve seen this guy before.” But then came the twist. In the last one or two days before release, the kind of buzz surrounding the film suddenly exploded. People started whispering – “It’s produced by Yash Raj Films.” Wait, what? YRF, the same studio that gave us blockbusters, is behind this film with no big faces?

That one sentence changed everything.

I had seen the trailer earlier – it looked decent. Its songs were catchy, and it gave me the impression that maybe they were launching one of Ananya Panday’s cousins. So I mentally prepared myself for a small, harmless romantic musical.

The Curiosity Begins

Last week I was in Kolkata – not exactly to meet a bro, but somehow, while chatting around with people, someone asked me, “Will you review Saiyaara?” And I thought, “Okay, if it releases and something interesting happens, maybe we’ll talk about it.” Turns out, everyone was waiting for it.

So, I looked into it. When the advance booking for Saiyaara started, I checked how many tickets had sold nationwide across PVR, INOX, Cinepolis, and all the big multiplex chains. And brace yourself – among all the 2025 biggies like Kesari 2, Sitare Zameen Par, Sky 4, Superman, Jurassic World: Game Changer, F1 Red 2, Housefull 5, Sikandar, and Mission Impossible – Saiyaara had the second-highest advance booking numbers after Chhava.

Almost 200,000 tickets sold.

Let me give you context – a film like Bidu Metro, with recognizable stars, peppy songs, and a full-on love story, managed only 18,000. Eighteen thousand versus two lakh. Even if you hate math, you can sense how massive that difference is. And I was sitting there thinking, “How did this happen? What kind of black-magic marketing did they pull off?”

The Mystery Behind the Hype

Some people online were even saying the bookings might be fake – because it didn’t make sense. In my own small city of 3.4 million, when I go for a first-day-first-show, I usually buy 6–10 tickets myself just so the show doesn’t get canceled.

But for Saiyaara? I walked in, and there were fifteen actual people! All young, all around 25, all looking genuinely excited. So yes, the marketing worked – and worked brilliantly. Releasing a small-budget film with unknown faces and still bringing crowds to theaters – that’s a victory in itself.

The Story: Familiar Yet Fresh

Now, let’s get to the story.

The main lead is a singer named Krish, a young man with one goal – to become a superstar, a name the whole world chants. “Krish, Krish.” On the other hand, the female lead – let’s call her the emotional backbone of the story – is a writer. But she’s also living through trauma, something heavy, something that keeps her distant from the world.

And then enters Krish – reckless, angry, driving like a maniac, smoking in slow motion, and walking into offices like he owns them. Basically, a Red Flag. But as cinema magic would have it – a woman with emotional wounds meets a man who is an emotional wound. And boom, chemistry happens. Or should I say, trauma bonding, the musical.

Déjà Vu in Melody – Aashiqui 2 Connection

Now, let’s not act like this formula is new. We’ve seen love stories built around struggling musicians and emotionally wounded writers. The first movie that instantly came to my mind was Aashiqui 2 – Shraddha Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, and that storm of emotions that made every teenager believe pain equals love.

Saiyaara gives off that same nostalgic feeling. I’m not saying it’s a copy, but that vibe – that melancholic, rain-soaked, slow-burn romance where heartbreak becomes art – it’s definitely there. Of course, the plot isn’t identical. It plays around with the idea of how pain fuels creativity, but adds its own twist. You’ll recognize the emotion but still find the execution refreshing. It’s same-same but different.

The Emotional Hook (and Some Heavy Turns)

What makes Saiyaara stand out is the twist in the middle. The love story doesn’t just move forward – it dives deep. There’s trauma, there’s mental health, and there’s a shocking event that shakes the tone of the movie.

At some point, you might feel like, “Wait, this isn’t the film I signed up for!” But that’s exactly what makes it emotionally impactful. It’s not a fairy tale. It’s about broken people trying to sing through their scars.

Music: The True Hero of Saiyaara

Let’s come to the biggest strength of the film – its music.

I didn’t count exactly, but there must be at least five or six songs, and every single one of them adds emotion, mood, and rhythm to the story. In fact, the entire romance between Krish and his muse is told through songs.

There are moments where you’ll wonder – “Did they even have a scene showing when they fell in love?”
And the answer is – no, because that scene is sung, not shown. That’s how heavily this movie leans on its soundtrack. And thankfully, the songs are absolutely beautiful. From heartbreak ballads to soft pop melodies, every track hits the right chord.

Had the music failed, the whole film would’ve collapsed. But it doesn’t – it soars.

Mohit Suri’s Signature Touch

It shouldn’t come as a surprise because the film is directed by Mohit Suri – the same man who gave us Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Half Girlfriend, and Malang.

His direction here feels like a return to form – emotional, stylish, and drenched in music. He knows exactly how to frame heartbreak beautifully. Saiyaara is basically Mohit Suri doing what he does best – giving us cinematic pain that somehow feels therapeutic.

The Performances: The Newcomers Shine

Now let’s talk about the actors.

The male lead Ahaan Panday – yes, the rumored cousin of Ananya Panday – is surprisingly good for a debutant. You can see he’s still learning, still raw, but there’s something endearing about his presence. He doesn’t overact, and that’s a big win in itself. He captures the “struggling artist” energy quite well. Sure, some walking shots looked awkward, but hey, nobody walks perfectly in their first movie.

The real surprise package, though, is Aneet Padda. Her performance feels mature, layered, and confident. You’d never guess it’s her debut. She has expressive eyes and a grounded charm that makes you instantly care about her character. In some frames, she looks like a younger version of Aditi Rao Hydari – which is a compliment of the highest order.

Little Technical Glitches (But Who’s Complaining)

There are a few rough edges – lip-sync errors in songs, dialogue timing slightly off in the first few scenes, maybe a few overly long shots where the director got a bit too emotional with his editing scissors.

But these are forgivable. When a film’s heart is in the right place, small hiccups don’t matter much.

Product Placements and Unintentional Comedy

Let’s talk about one of my favorite subplots – the product placements. The hero rides a Harley Davidson X40 – a total marketing masterstroke. I could already imagine young guys googling “bike from Saiyaara movie” during the interval. The family in the movie lives in a classy Mumbai flat but drives a Tata Punch. Make that make sense. And that random fancy window seat with no armrest? Yeah, that one probably cost more than the bike.

Then comes the censor board mystery. There’s a scene where both leads, well, do the thing. And it’s quite… detailed. I was genuinely shocked it wasn’t cut. Maybe the censors were too busy crying at the music to notice.

The Soul of Saiyaara

But jokes apart, the film knows what it wants to be – a soulful love story that connects with young audiences. It doesn’t try to be philosophical or larger-than-life. It just speaks directly to that 20-something heart that believes love can heal pain.

And maybe that’s why it’s connecting so well with the youth. The emotions are raw, the pain feels real, and the characters look like people you might actually meet.

Ahaan Panday: Potential in Progress

Ahaan’s acting, as mentioned, is okay-okay – but his body language is confident. He looks the part of a musician lost in ambition. He might not be “actor of the year” material yet, but he’s a promising start.

And unlike some debutants who overdo the charm or the tears, he stays believable.

Aneet Padda: The Heartbeat of the Film

But let’s be honest – the film belongs to Aneet Padda. She’s the emotional anchor, the reason the film doesn’t sink into melodrama. Her vulnerability feels lived-in, not acted. She elevates even ordinary dialogues with grace.

If this is her first film, she’s here to stay.

Direction and Tone

Mohit Suri’s direction balances light and dark beautifully. The visuals – rain-drenched roads, recording studios, quiet balconies – all feel poetic. There are some melodramatic scenes, sure. But that’s the charm of his cinema. It’s heightened emotion done stylishly.

He doesn’t reinvent romance, but he reminds us why we fell in love with romantic tragedies in the first place.

The Audience Connection

For viewers aged 25 and below, this film is a near-perfect emotional rollercoaster. It speaks their language – heartbreak, career struggles, creative burnout, love as healing.

Older audiences might find a few parts overly dramatic, but that’s fine. This film knows its crowd and serves it well.

A Small Film With a Big Heart

When I walked into the theater, I didn’t expect much. But I walked out smiling (and humming).
Saiyaara turned out to be a pleasant surprise – a film where music, emotions, and performances all come together in harmony.

No, it’s not another Aashiqui 2. That lightning doesn’t strike twice.
But Saiyaara manages to create its own thunder.

The songs are fantastic, the direction polished, and the acting honest. For a film made without a superstar, it wins you over with sincerity.

Final Thoughts

If you were already curious about Saiyaara because of its mysterious marketing, go ahead – give it a chance. Don’t expect a masterpiece. Expect a movie that makes you feel something real, that makes you think about your old heartbreaks, your old playlists, and those nights when music was your only friend.

For me, Saiyaara is a solid 3.5 out of 5 – an emotional, musically rich, and surprisingly engaging romantic drama that proves sometimes, all you need is a good song and a beating heart.

So yes, go for it. And if you’re still unsure, just watch the trailer once.