Mohit Suri’s "Saiyaara" Amasses Rs4 Crore Pre-Sales Ahead of 18 July Debut

Bollywood director Mohit Suri is returning to the genre that made his name with "Saiyaara," a romantic musical drama that opens in cinemas on 18 July. Backed by Yash Raj Films, the project pairs newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in a story about an aspiring singer-songwriter duo, marking the most significant launch of fresh faces since Suri’s 2013 hit "Aashiqui 2." Indian exhibitors report more than Rs 4 crore (about US$480,000) in advance ticket sales, an unusually strong figure for a film led by debutants and among the highest pre-sale tallies for a Hindi romance post-pandemic. Trade analysts say the brisk demand indicates appetite for mid-budget love stories amid a market dominated by action spectacles. Suri told industry publication Variety that he deliberately chose a traditional love story to counter current blockbuster trends, arguing that “the heart still aches in the same place” despite changing audience habits. The film’s performance will be closely watched as a barometer of whether Bollywood’s long-dormant romance genre can regain box-office clout.