In what can only be described as a fairytale run at the box office, Saiyaara has officially entered the coveted Rs 300 crore India net club—finishing day 19 with an estimated Rs 304.60 crore. It now ranks as the 15th highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, surpassing star-powered titles like Padmaavat, Sultan, and War. What makes this feat even more remarkable is that Saiyaara had none of the usual trappings of a blockbuster: no major stars, no franchise legacy, and no enormous marketing blitz. What it did have, though, was soul—and an audience that believed in it.In a press statement issued by YRF, it’s CEO Akshaye Widhani talking about the success of the film said “The success of Saiyaara, a pure love story, once again proves that the romance genre is probably the one to get most love from audience if we give them the right film to cherish and endorse. We are humbled with this success story and it fuels us to look for the next film that can break-out and make India proud globally.It’s deeply encouraging to see young audiences lead the way in embracing this film, disproving doubts about their theatrical participation. Thank you to every viewer, everywhere, for making Saiyaara the defining love story of our time.”
A Thunderous Start: Rs 172.75 Cr in Week 1The box office journey began with a bang. On its opening day (Friday), Saiyaara earned Rs 21.5 crore—a remarkable number for a film with modest expectations. Fueled by exceptional word-of-mouth, the numbers soared over the weekend: Rs 26 crore on Saturday (up 20.93%) and Rs 35.75 crore on Sunday (up 37.5%), bringing its first weekend total to Rs 83.25 crore.Most films see a dip after their initial buzz, but Saiyaara defied that trend. Monday collections held strong at Rs 24 crore, followed by Rs 25 crore on Tuesday, and though Wednesday and Thursday saw expected declines (Rs 21.5 crore and Rs 19 crore respectively), the film wrapped its opening week with an astounding Rs 172.75 crore net—one of the best first-week performances for a non-franchise Hindi film in recent memory.Holding Strong in Week 2: Rs 107.75 Cr MoreThe second weekend confirmed what many had begun to suspect: Saiyaara wasn’t just a fluke, it was a phenomenon. The second Friday brought in Rs 18 crore, and Saturday’s collections jumped 47.22% to Rs 26.5 crore. Sunday capped off the weekend with Rs 30 crore, pushing the second weekend total to Rs 74.5 crore.Weekday drops were inevitable, but Saiyaara managed them well. Monday dipped to Rs 9.25 crore, but held firm on Tuesday at Rs 10 crore, and collected another Rs 7.5 crore and Rs 6.5 crore on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. That brought Week 2’s total to Rs 107.75 crore, reflecting a week-on-week drop of just 37.63%—an enviable figure even for big-budget films.By the end of Day 14, Saiyaara stood tall at Rs 280.50 crore.
Third Weekend Magic: Rs 19.25 Cr More
Even in its third week, Saiyaara refused to slow down. It added Rs 4.5 crore on its third Friday, then witnessed a 50% bump to Rs 6.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday collections further jumped to Rs 8 crore, clearly indicating that audiences were still showing up in droves. That’s a strong third weekend total of Rs 19.25 crore.On Monday (Day 18), collections fell sharply to Rs 2.35 crore, as expected. However, the film stabilized on Tuesday, adding another Rs 2.5 crore (early estimates), pushing the 19-day India net total to Rs 304.60 crore.
How Did Saiyaara Pull This Off?
The secret lies in Saiyaara’s authentic storytelling, emotional depth, and organic audience support. Unlike the tentpole releases packed with visual effects, multi-crore marketing budgets, and star-studded casts, Saiyaara is a content-first film.The film is likely to end up as one of the most profitable Hindi films in Indian cinema history in terms of ROI. With minimal promotions and no studio-driven hype machinery, its success has been driven almost entirely by viewer appreciation and repeat audiences.What also worked in its favour:
- Consistent weekday numbers, indicating deep-rooted word-of-mouth
- Low drop-off rates even in third week
- Pan-India resonance without trying too hard to cater to all demographics
- No major competition, allowing it clean theatrical run for three weeks
A Global Triumph TooWhile the India net collection is impressive on its own, Saiyaara’s worldwide earnings have also skyrocketed. The film has already earned Rs 44.72 crore in North America making it the second biggest Hindi hit of the year after Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava which had minted over Rs 56 crore in the circuit.
Final Stretch: How Far Can It Go?
With a daily run rate of Rs 2–2.5 crore and only a moderate drop in audience interest, Saiyaara is expected to add another Rs 10-12 crore to its India net collections before completing its theatrical run around 14th August. That means a potential final tally of around Rs 320 crore, which could push it past Bajrangi Bhaijaan which is on the 14th position.Even if collections taper off faster than expected, the milestone has already been achieved: Saiyaara has become a historic outlier in an industry dominated by big-budget, risk-averse filmmaking.
The Legacy of Saiyaara
In a world obsessed with formulas, Saiyaara broke all of them. It arrived quietly, rose quickly, and endured powerfully—all without any of the traditional box office crutches. It has proven, unequivocally, that a well-written, emotionally resonant film with honest performances can still rule the box office. Saiyaara is not just a hit. It’s a reminder. A reminder that the audience is always ready to reward sincerity, emotion, and good storytelling. It has carved out a space for itself not just in the Rs 300 crore club—but in the hearts of millions.
