Saiyaara offers a refreshing take on love, stepping away from Bollywood’s long-standing problematic portrayals and embracing respect, space, and personal growth.
Breaking Free from Bollywood Tropes
For too long, Bollywood has sold us a distorted version of love. We’ve seen “damaged genius” male leads with zero emotional control, while female characters silently endure their tantrums, often depicted as submissive and loyal no matter the abuse.
Films like Kabir Singh and Animal glorified toxic masculinity, showing heroes who inflict emotional (and sometimes physical) pain, yet still receive a romantic redemption arc. This often leads to a false narrative where staying with such characters is labeled as “true love,” blurring the lines between romance and trauma bonding.
Meet the New Faces of Romance
Enter Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, introducing a much-needed breath of fresh air. Ahaan Panday, as Krish, delivers a performance rich in vulnerability and genuine emotion, proving his talent goes beyond his famous lineage.
Aneet Padda shines as Vaani, a character far more than just a love interest. She’s a layered woman with agency, a complex past, and clear, firm boundaries. Their dynamic feels authentic and mature, a stark contrast to many recent on-screen relationships.
Love That Prioritizes Self-Growth
What makes Saiyaara truly revolutionary is what it doesn’t do. There are no dramatic, over-the-top declarations or obsessive pursuits. Instead, it quietly champions two individuals – Krish and Vaani – who learn to choose each other only after choosing themselves.
Krish makes the difficult decision to walk away from a toxic home and his alcoholic father, not out of rebellion, but a deep need for survival and self-improvement. He declares his ambition, prioritizing his future over generational poverty.
Similarly, Vaani, recovering from being ghosted before her wedding, refuses to marry out of fear or pity. Even when Krish proposes to her in the hospital, she gently declines. Her refusal isn’t about a lack of love, but a profound desire for Krish to chase his own dreams first, emphasizing that marriage can wait, but lost dreams lead to regret.
The Power of Choosing Yourself
This commitment to self-prioritization continues throughout the film. When Vaani receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she chooses to walk away from Krish. This isn’t weakness; it’s an act of clarity, wanting to remember who she is, rather than becoming someone’s emotional burden or project.
When they eventually reunite, it’s not because one needs to complete the other. Instead, they come together as two whole individuals who have already completed themselves. Saiyaara never shames its characters for putting their peace, dreams, or identity first.
The film powerfully conveys that if a relationship costs you your peace, your dreams, or your sense of self, it isn’t love. It’s simply noise.
Key Takeaways from Saiyaara
- Authentic love means prioritizing personal growth and well-being.
- Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect and space, not obsession or control.
- True connection thrives when individuals are whole and complete within themselves.
Saiyaara stands as a beacon of hope for romantic dramas, showing that love isn’t about fixing broken people, but about building something healthy with someone who is also doing the work to heal and grow. It’s a soft, self-aware narrative that celebrates healing over pain, reminding us that the right kind of love will never ask you to shrink.
