Saiyaara, the romantic musical directed by Mohit Suri and released on July 18, 2025, marks the debut of star-kid Ahaan Panday alongside Aneet Padda, telling the story of a struggling musician (Krish Kapoor) who falls in love with a shy poet (Vaani Batra), only for their relationship to face the heartbreak of early-onset Alzheimer s.
The film has become an unexpected blockbuster and has earned approximately ₹83 crore in its opening weekend, surpassing ₹150 crore in six days, and within 5 days, it has grossed over ₹200 crore.
Critics and audiences have praised its emotional narrative, music, and standout performances from the newcomers. Industry heavyweights like Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and even Mahesh Babu have publicly lauded the cast s debut.
Meanwhile, the film’s trailers, powerful songs, and trailer reactions—some viewers moved to tears or fainted—triggered intense social media buzz.
In one reaction, two guys can be seen crying at the cinema.
The movie seems to have stirred the hearts of the public, as in this reaction, a person can be seen standing up at the cinema with his shirt removed and in his hand, as a girl tries to pull him back to his seat.
Several viral clips show fans singing, dancing, and emotionally reacting in theatres, even arriving with IV drips—some likening the experience to a concert.
In a public reaction, a guy can be seen proposing to his girlfriend as the end credits of the movie roll in the background. In the cinema, he is seen picking up the girl with both hands and twirling her around in the air.
This is a compilation of public reactions in which many have fainted and others have removed their shirts due to the emotional resonance and impact of the movie.
Online audiences have praised Ahaan’s earnest performance. He has been praised by online audiences across India, and they have applauded that he isn’t just “another star kid” but seems to have put in genuine effort.
It has been argued by critics that the hype feels orchestrated. It feels more like a PR stunt rather than genuine reactions, and they have pointed to coordinated social media campaigns and sudden PR surges just before the release. Some commentators question whether the film’s reported success is inflated and ask if the buzz is primarily a marketing construct.
In this reaction, a person seems to have fainted at the end of the movie.
Last but not least, the public can be seen crying their hearts out, standing up and screaming at the top of their lungs with tremendous hurt, and one person lying straight on the ground near the movie’s end.
Online buzz dubbed the hysteria “Saiyaara virus,” with memes joking, “Corona is the second most dangerous virus. First is Saiyaara.” One viral tweet read: “China’s youth building AI, India’s busy crying over Saiyaara.” Others joked about F-35 jets and virus alerts, poking fun at the frenzy.
Saiyaara’s box-office records, powerful visuals, and exceptional acting have created a massive buzz not only on social media but all across India as well. However, despite the film’s success, the question persists: Is it a heartfelt connection formed through storytelling and performance—or a carefully curated PR masterpiece? As theatres continue to overflow and social media reactions pour in, the truth may lie somewhere in between. Its triumph appears real—but so does the strategy behind its launch.
