There’s a reason Saiyaara is trending, not just in theatres, but all over social media.
Controversy over originality: Viewers spotted clear plot parallels between Saiyaara and the 2004 Korean film A Moment to Remember, especially around the disease-triggered romance, memory-loss scenes, and emotional arcs. Accusations of plagiarism quickly flooded X and chat groups.
Memes and cringe reactions: One man even watched the film in a theatre while hooked to an IV drip and other fans were seen crying or fainting. Critics called that “cringe,” while others saw it as proof of the film’s emotional pull.
The commotion in cinemas: People shouting, whistling, heckling during screenings forced a viewer from Meerut to shame the crowd, saying, “Sab apne aap ko hero samajh rahe hain.” That viral clip amplified criticism of fan frenzy.
So what this really means is: people are mad not just at the movie’s emotional intensity, but also at how it’s resonated or misfired in public.
Cast & Storyline
Cast: Debutants Ahaan Panday plays Krish Kapoor (a troubled musician) and Aneet Padda stars as Vaani Batra (a shy poet‑lyricist).
Plot: Krish finds redemption and artistic synergy with Vaani. They fall in love, only for her to be diagnosed with early‑onset Alzheimer’s. The story charts their struggle, heartbreak, separation and eventual reunion through a viral song and memories at Wembley Stadium.
Budget & Earnings
Budget: Produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara had a production cost of ~ ₹35–40 crore, with overall expenses (including promotion and music) near ₹60 crore.
Box Office: Opening day: ~₹20–21 crore, early estimates predicted ~₹24 crore.
Opening weekend: ~₹83 crore in just three days, a record for a film led by newcomers.
Day 4 total: ₹105.75 crore (India), plus ₹17.25 crore from overseas.
Day 5: crossed ₹130 crore, overtaking films like Sikandar in just five days.
Non‑theatrical revenue: Before release, it recovered ~₹45 crore from music, digital and satellite rights.
At this pace, Saiyaara clearly hit blockbuster territory well beyond breakeven and turned into 2025’s standout romantic hit.
Where Saiyaara Stands Compared to Classic Love Stories
Bollywood has a tradition of high‑emotion romance. Think of Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, even Kabir Singh. Saiyaara follows suit. Critics have called it Aashiqui 3 because of its familiar template: brooding musician falls for fragile poet; a tragedy drives the plot; heartbreak blooms through melody.
Saiyaara scores high on music (title track “Saiyaara”, “Barbaad”, “Tum Ho Toh”) and visuals, and launches new faces with strong chemistry. Critics say the screenplay is predictable, first half slow, and the pacing drags but still delivers the emotional payoff fans expect from Mohit Suri.
In comparison to older films: it arguably lacks innovation but delivers comfort and nostalgia to audiences craving cinematic heartbreak again .
So what this really means is: Saiyaara isn’t reinventing romance but it revives the emotional core that photoshopped Bollywood seemed to have forgotten.
Why the Anger?
Originality concerns: Accusations of copying A Moment to Remember raised strong objections from film buffs and critics.
Excessive viewer behavior: Some find the melodrama overdone. The public sobbing, fainting, IV‑drip fandom feels performative rather than genuine.
Crowd disruptions: Chaotic cinema behavior turned off regular moviegoers and sparked decorum complaints.
It’s the clash between the emotional resonance and the backlash, both online and offline, that has made Saiyaara such a polarizing phenomenon.
Saiyaara may not be revolutionary but it’s the emotional intensity and polarizing reactions that have made it impossible to ignore.
Did you watch it?