Bollywood’s love affair with timeless romance seems to have found a new spark in Mohit Suri’s latest film, Saiyaara. With fresh faces Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead, the film is quickly becoming the emotional juggernaut of the year. Now, Shraddha Kapoor, the face of Aashiqui 2, one of the most iconic romantic films of the past decade, has also joined the chorus of praise.
Recently, Shraddha Kapoor put out an exuberant video on Instagram of herself applauding and cheering at a cinema hall for Saiyaara. The next moment, her attention turned to a heartfelt caption: “Saiyaara ki Aashiqui ho gayi hai mujhe.” It reflected her outright adoration and respect for the movie while referring to her immensely popular romantic number, Aashiqui 2 (2013) directed by Mohit Suri.
She didn’t stop there. Sharing a still from the movie, one that showed Ahaan Panday’s character kneeling on stage, gazing at a photo of Aneet Shraddha, she captioned it, “Pure cinema, pure drama, pure magic. Uff… Bohot time baad itna emotion feel kiya hai… Iss moment ke liye 5 baar dekhungi.” Her words captured the emotional grip the film seems to have on its viewers.
The Aashiqui 2 Connection
The unmediated reaction of Shraddha Kapoor has brought the entire circuit around Saiyara and Aashiqui 2 in sharper focus. Her genuine excitement brought both films into prominence leading to a fresh round of comparisons based on their shared romantic appeal.
It is expounded that both could be stories of love revolving around musical themes where love, loss, and yearning exist paramount. Not very often do we get to see a film celebrate Aashiqui 2’s cultural standing, with Shraddha’s perfor-mance with Aditya Roy Kapur glamorized for being deeply emotional and having an everlasting soundtrack.
The films are essentially the musings of Mohit Suri on the bygone eras of Aashiqui and Aashiqui 2, whereas the former dealt with love and triumph in adversity, the latter spoke of love, loss, and longing for something. Not very often do we get to see a film celebrate Aashiqui 2’s cultural standing, with Shraddha’s perfor-mance with Aditya Roy Kapur glamorized for being deeply emotional and having an everlasting soundtrack.
It was Shraddha’s debut movie, and the popularity of the film has endured over time.
Likewise, Saiyaara is about Krrish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a failing musician, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), an aspiring journalist. A powerful and memorable musical score elevates their journey of love, heartbreak, and redemption with heartfelt emotion.
It’s no coincidence that fans are making connections between the two.
Shraddha’s public endorsement of the film has added strength to that sentiment, as fans now view Saiyaara as the spiritual heir to Aashiqui 2 with its heart, music, and deep emotion.
Alia Bhatt Joins In
Shraddha isn’t the only celebrity to be moved by Saiyaara. Alia Bhatt also took to social media with a heartfelt note. She praised Ahaan and Aneet’s performances and lauded Mohit Suri for once again crafting a film with emotional honesty and beauty.
“Saiyaara is brimming with emotion, depth, and a lingering essence that stays with you long after… in the most beautiful way,” she shared.
“This isn’t just a film. It’s a moment. And I’m so glad I got to feel it.” Alia also congratulated the team and producers Yash Raj Films for creating what she called a “beautiful” piece of cinema.
Ahaan and Aneet: A Dream Debut
For newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara is the ideal debut most actors can only dream of. Ahaan stands out as a romantic artist looking for guidance in love. Aneet brings depth to Vaani, a woman chasing her own dreams. Together, they stand out on the big screen. They portray characters with such authenticity that they feel real and deeply relatable.
What has particularly worked in favor of the two debutants is the chemistry they share on screen. The online and theater audience reaction confirms that the two have left a deep impression. They are being cheered, not only for their appearance, but also for their performances and depth of emotion.
It’s not only celebrity endorsement and fan mania fueling the momentum; box office figures speak in the same vein. Saiyaara earned ₹21 crore on its first day, a remarkable feat for a film led by newcomers.
It then rose to ₹26 crore on Saturday and reached a high of ₹35.75 crore on Sunday. By Monday, it had already reached the ₹100 crore mark at the domestic box office, a huge milestone in four days.
With repeat viewers, sold-out night shows, and wholesome word of mouth, Saiyaara is more than a one-week phenomenon. It has become a cultural debate.
A New Chapter for Bollywood Romance?
With the sweeping welcome Saiyaara is receiving, many are asking whether this is the start of a new chapter in Hindi romance. For years, the rom-coms and actioned films sat pretty at the box office. Saiyaara still proves that there is space and demand for meaningful love stories with powerful emotion and equally potent music.
Shraddha Kapoor stated perfectly that she did not remember the last time she felt an emotional high. For fans of Bollywood romance, Saiyaara feels like coming home. And for the industry, it’s a reminder that sometimes, all you need is a simple story told with sincerity.