Saiyaara's advance booking signals rare debut breakthrough for Ahaan Panday despite fewer screens

Mohit Suri’s latest directorial, Saiyaara, is making waves even before its theatrical release. With just over a day to go, the romantic musical starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda has sold over 90,000 tickets across top multiplex chains like PVRInox and Cinepolis as of 11 pm.

Industry insiders suggest that if this pace continues, the film could close advance bookings with anywhere between 1.75 to 2 lakh tickets sold in these major chains alone. It’s a staggering figure, especially for a film led by debutants.

While the film is currently tracking to open between Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore on day one, its limited release—just 1,750 screens across India—might keep it from crossing the upper end of that range. A nationwide release above Rs 20 crore usually demands upwards of 3,500 screens. The producers seem to be focusing on high occupancy instead of spreading thin across too many locations.

Adding to the momentum is a limited discount offer for opening day tickets. However, experts say these offers can only bump the collections by Rs 1–2 crore at best and are not the main reason behind the strong sales. In contrast, another film releasing alongside Saiyaara, Tanvi: The Great, also has a discount campaign but isn’t seeing similar traction.

The kind of advance buzz Saiyaara is generating is unusual for a launch vehicle. Comparisons are already being drawn with Refugee, which marked the debut of Abhishek Bachchan and also opened to record numbers for its time. While Saiyaara may not break that record, its turnout so far is notable, especially in today’s post-pandemic climate when drawing audiences to cinemas remains a challenge.

Written and directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara is a romantic musical expected to blend youth appeal with strong music, a genre the filmmaker is known for. With only hours left before its theatrical debut on 18 July, all eyes are now on whether it can convert this early momentum into a successful box office weekend.