Mohit Suri’s latest romantic drama, “Saiyaara,” has made an impressive debut at the box office, surpassing the opening day collections of several of his previous hits and marking a potential turning point for the director.
Saiyaara’s Strong Box Office Start
“Saiyaara,” starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, opened to a promising start. Early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk indicate that the film has already raked in Rs 15.51 crore by 8 pm on its first day.
This strong performance places “Saiyaara” ahead of director Mohit Suri’s earlier successful films, including “Murder 2,” which earned Rs 6.95 crore on its opening day, and “Aashiqui 2,” which collected Rs 6.10 crore. It also surpassed “Half Girlfriend,” which brought in Rs 10.30 crore on its first day.
The film is now poised to overtake “Ek Villain,” Suri’s 2014 blockbuster that garnered Rs 16 crore on its opening day. This significant collection suggests a potential resurgence for the director, who has been looking for another major hit since “Ek Villain”‘s success.
A Turning Point for Mohit Suri?
Mohit Suri’s last big hit was “Ek Villain,” which was made on a budget of Rs 39 crore and went on to gross a massive Rs 155 crore worldwide. “Saiyaara’s” robust opening could signify a return to form for the filmmaker.
The movie witnessed an overall occupancy of 41.07% across India, with a total of 3523 shows. Major cities like Mumbai scheduled 649 shows, while Delhi-NCR had even more, with 804 shows, indicating widespread interest.
Industry Reactions: Newcomers Shine
The film’s buzz has been considerable, partly due to its popular soundtrack and the decision to cast new faces. This strategy has drawn praise from prominent industry figures.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar lauded “Saiyaara” on social media, stating it has “shattered every myth about launching newcomers.” He emphasized that the film succeeded on “raw talent and fearless storytelling,” proving that audiences are “ready for the unpredictable” and that success is about “what you bring,” not “who you know.”
Sanjay Gupta, another acclaimed director, also took to social media to commend Yash Raj Films’ decision to keep the lead pair out of pre-release interviews and appearances. He believed this strategy preserved their freshness exclusively for the big screen, a move he hailed as “genius” given the film’s impressive results.
- “Saiyaara” earned Rs 15.51 crore on its opening day, surpassing several of Mohit Suri’s previous films.
- It is on track to beat the first-day collection of Suri’s blockbuster “Ek Villain.”
- The film’s success, featuring newcomers, has been praised by industry veterans.
The early box office performance of “Saiyaara” suggests a promising future, not just for the film itself, but also for the trend of launching new talent in Bollywood.
