Saiyaara (Introduction)
Mohit Suri is the director of the Indian musical romantic drama Saiyaara, which will be released in 2025. It stars debutantes Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda and is produced by Yash Raj Films. The film follows Krish Kapoor, a troubled musician who forms a deep connection with Vaani Batra, a shy poet.
Saiyaara was released on 18 July 2025, and received positive reviews from critics, with praise towards Panday and Padda’s performances, Suri’s direction and the soundtrack. The film was a huge commercial hit, earning $418 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian romantic film, the second highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025, and the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.
Plot
Vaani Batra, along with her parents and younger brother, waits at the court for Mahesh and his family for their scheduled marriage. Vaani, on the other hand, finds out during a phone call that Mahesh has chosen the daughter of a prominent businessman over love in favor of career goals. Vaani is devastated, and as a result, she faints and withdraws into a deep depression.
As a result, she locks herself in her room for several months and loses touch with her passion for writing. Young and talented musician Krish Kapoor is attempting to break into the industry. He is aggressive and emotionally unstable, and he uses music to deal with childhood trauma. Krish is held together by his friend KV, who uses money intended for his education to support the band after an unpleasant encounter with a journalist and a band member who took credit for his work.
Krish comes across Vaani Batra’s personal poetry one day. The quiet, shy girl is looking for a job as an anchor and writer at a publishing house. He is immediately drawn to the raw simplicity and depth in her writing.
Despite initial hesitation due to Krish’s erratic behavior and the overwhelming environment of the music studio, Vaani agrees to collaborate with him on a song for a production house. During a creative block, Krish discovers torn pages in her notebook and realizes she is carrying emotional baggage of her own. Krish takes Vaani to a cricket field, where he frequently finds peace, to help her feel better. Inspired by his passion and focus, Vaani begins writing again.
Their collaboration deepens as they spend more time together in the studio, riding on Krish’s bike, and attending social gatherings. Vaani gradually regains her self-assurance, and Krish discovers clarity and equilibrium in her presence. When Krish is publicly embarrassed by the sight of his drunken father being brought home by the police, he vents his pent-up anger at him, blaming him for his mother’s death due to alcoholism.
Vaani follows him as he flees to the cricket field and offers him comfort. She acknowledges how Krish has helped her heal and now she is able to write freely again. In turn, she supports him in enrolling his father into a rehabilitation center. Their emotional bond grows even stronger. Once their project is completed, Krish drops Vaani home and tells her that her life would be better without him.
However, when they meet again at a concert, they discover that they share similar feelings. One day, Vaani’s parents see Krish dropping her off and grow concerned. Vaani’s mother is concerned that Krish might leave her like Mahesh did. Vaani passes out from stress and is taken to the hospital. Her father allows Krish to visit her, and her mother, though skeptical, asks Krish if he truly intends to stay.
She tells him to marry Vaani if he genuinely loves her. Krish concurs, enhancing their connection and bolstering Vaani’s faith in his love. Their lives take a dramatic turn when Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, with signs of memory loss becoming apparent just as Krish is about to leave for a concert. Her condition leads to a public outburst after unexpectedly running into Mahesh at an event. Krish receives a call from a stranger using Vaani’s phone, informing him about her distressed state and abandoned belongings.
He cancels his flight and finds her at the same cricket ground, attempting to play. Vaani expresses her concern that Krish and herself might be forgotten. He reassures her that he will always be there, creating new memories if she forgets the old ones.
Vaani’s parents think about moving to a different place on the advice of their doctor. Krish volunteers to take her on a trip, and they travel to Alibaug. During this time, their love flourishes, and they create cherished memories.
Later, Krish brings Vaani to a concert. She assures him she will always cheer for him, no matter what. While she records his performance, Mahesh reappears, triggering her symptoms. She forgets the present and Mahesh attempts to exploit her vulnerability. Krish intervenes and assaults Mahesh for his actions. In an effort to safeguard Mahesh, Vaani, unable to recognize Krish, panics and injures him.
After calming her down and escorting her back to their guesthouse, Krish’s father, who was witness to everything, offered his condolences for the harm he had inflicted upon Krish as a child and advised him not to give up his life for love as he had previously done. Krish plays the piano and tells a story about a friend whose girlfriend is leaving in the guesthouse’s quiet. Vaani, moved, writes the song “Saiyaara” as a farewell message, promising that music will always bring her back. But due to her condition, she accidentally calls Krish by Mahesh’s name, breaking his heart. When he returns from a brief moment alone, Vaani is gone.
Unable to find her despite extensive searches with her parents, Krish decides to release the song “Saiyaara,” hoping it will reach her somehow. It becomes a global hit. Krish, who is now a superstar, performs the song all over the country, always carrying Vaani’s notebook with her writings in it. KV spots Vaani in a social media reel that has gone viral and features “Saiyaara” months later as they are getting ready for a concert at Wembley Stadium.
When Krish sees it, she finds out that she is in Manali. He travels to an ashram in Himachal Pradesh where Vaani has been staying. The caretaker gives him a letter from Vaani in which she tells him that she left him so that he could fulfill his dreams because she didn’t want to keep him from doing so because of her condition. She admits that she frequently listens to “Saiyaara” and follows his success from afar. Krish meets her, but she doesn’t recognize him and says she can’t write because she can’t.
He reminds her of the things only they shared, recreates the cricket scene from their first collaboration, and gradually, memories start returning. Vaani eventually remembers him and passionately confesses her love.
The film ends with Krish performing at Wembley Stadium, with Vaani by his side, as they get married, having finally reunited through love, music, and memory.
Cast
Credit – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiyaara#Cast
- Ahaan Panday as Krish Kapoor
- Aneet Padda as Vaani Batra
- Geeta Agrawal Sharma as Mrs. Geeta Batra, Vaani’s mother
- Rajesh Kumar as Mr. Rajesh Batra, Vaani’s father
- Varun Badola as Ashok Kapoor, Krish’s father
- Shaad Randhawa as Prince
- Sid Makkar as Vinit Rawal
- Alam Khan as KV
- Shaan Groverr as Mahesh Iyer, Vaani’s former fiancée
- Neil Dutta as Cleo Matthews
- Anngad Raaj as Rudransh “Ruddy” Batra, Vaani’s brother
- Ritika Murthy as Neha
- Mohit Wadhwa as Rick
- Meher Acharia Dar as Dr. Khyati
- Raunak Kumar Rawat as Vivaan
Our General Review
The Setup: A Classic Bollywood Brew with a Gen-Z Twist
Picture this: Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a brooding, tattooed, weed-smoking wannabe rockstar with more swagger than a peacock in mating season, is out here trying to make it big in the music world.
He’s got daddy issues, a temper that could set off a fire alarm, and a penchant for punching critics who don’t name-drop him in reviews. (Pro tip: if you’re a journalist, maybe don’t mess with Krish unless you’ve got a good dentist.) Enter Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a soft-spoken poet with a diary full of heart-wrenching lyrics and a heart freshly shattered after being ditched at the altar. Yes, folks, her ex pulled a runaway groom move that’s straight out of a soap opera’s rejected script pile.
These two meet when Vaani’s diary of soulful scribbles falls into Krish’s hands, and he’s like, “Whoa, these words are basically my ticket to stardom!” Before you know it, they’re collaborating on songs, falling in love, and navigating life’s curveballs—like a certain plot twist that’s so Mohit Suri-coded it might as well have his signature tattooed on it. Think Aashiqui 2 meets The Notebook with a dash of 50 First Dates and a whole lot of Instagram-era angst. The story isn’t exactly groundbreaking (it’s more like ground-tickling), but it’s told with such earnestness that you can’t help but root for these crazy kids.
The Good: Music That Slaps and Chemistry That Sizzles
Let’s start with the crown jewel of Saiyaara: the music. Oh, sweet Bollywood gods, the MUSIC! If you’ve ever sobbed into your pillow while listening to “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2, prepare to have your soul yeeted into the stratosphere by this soundtrack.
The title track, “Saiyaara,” is an earworm so catchy it should come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous humming in public.” Composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Arslan Abdullah, and Faheem Nizami, with lyrics by Irshad Kamil that hit you right in the feels, it’s the kind of song that makes you want to stare dramatically out a rainy window. Other bangers like “Dhun,” “Barbaad,” “Tum Ho Toh,” and “Humsafar” are so soulful they’ll have you texting your ex at 2 a.m. (Don’t do it, though—trust me.)
The debutants, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, are the beating heart of this flick. Ahaan, with his Ranveer Singh-esque energy (minus the mustache, plus a nepotism jab or two), brings a raw, fiery charm to Krish. He’s all rage and rebellion in the first half, but when the script calls for vulnerability, he delivers like a pizza guy on a mission—hot and right on time. Aneet Padda, meanwhile, is a revelation.
Vaani’s quiet strength and delicate heartbreak are portrayed with such nuance that you forget she’s a newcomer. There’s a scene where she scolds Krish in a recording studio, delivering a monologue so theatrical it could’ve gone wrong in less capable hands, but Aneet nails it like a carpenter with a grudge. Their chemistry? Chef’s kiss. It’s like watching two puppies fall in love, only with better hair and more existential crises.
The supporting cast is no slouch either. Geeta Agrawal Sharma as Vaani’s protective mom steals scenes with one-liners like, “Don’t waste your precious tears on some fool!”—a line so iconic I’m considering getting it tattooed on my forehead. The cinematography by Vikas Sivaraman is another standout, with vibrant concert scenes and tender close-ups that make you feel like you’re eavesdropping on Krish and Vaani’s love story. And Mohit Suri? The man knows how to wring every ounce of emotion from a scene without resorting to cheap melodrama. Well, mostly.
The Not-So-Good: Been There, Done That, Cried That
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the overly familiar elephant doing a predictable dance routine. If you’ve seen Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, or any of Mohit Suri’s greatest hits, you’ll feel a strong sense of déjà vu. The plot hits all the classic beats: boy meets girl, love blooms, tragedy strikes, cue the waterworks.
There’s a twist involving a certain medical condition (no spoilers, but it’s giving The Fault in Our Stars vibes), and while it’s handled with sensitivity, it feels a tad convenient, like the scriptwriter was like, “Eh, let’s throw in some extra tears.” Some scenes are so corny they might make you giggle instead of sob, like when Krish storms into an office to confront a critic, yelling about “nepo babies” in a meta moment that’s equal parts cheeky and cringey.
The second half drags a bit, like a wedding reception where the DJ keeps playing the same song. The pacing slows to a crawl, and some plot points—like Vaani’s evil ex popping up for no reason—feel like they were added just to stir the pot. Also, the supporting characters, aside from Vaani’s mom, don’t get much to do. Krish’s dad (Varun Badola) deserved a meatier arc, but instead, he’s mostly there to look stern and disappointed, like a math teacher grading a failing test.
The Vibes: A Love Letter to Broken Hearts and Dreamy Playlists
What makes Saiyaara stand out is its unapologetic embrace of old-school Bollywood romance with a modern twist. It’s not trying to be a gritty thriller or a quirky indie flick—it’s a full-on, heart-on-its-sleeve love story that says, “Yeah, we’re gonna make you cry, and you’re gonna love it.”
The film taps into the Gen-Z struggle of balancing ambition, anxiety, and the search for love in a world obsessed with likes and reels. Krish and Vaani’s relati
onship feels real, not because it’s new, but because it’s raw—two broken souls finding solace in each other’s chaos. It’s like if your favorite sad song had a baby with a rom-com and raised it on a diet of Mohit Suri’s emotional playbook.
The movie also sneaks in some surprisingly progressive moments. Krish isn’t your typical macho hero—he cries, he hurts, he’s vulnerable in ways Bollywood leading men rarely are. Vaani, meanwhile, isn’t just a damsel waiting to be saved; her journey is about reclaiming her voice (literally and figuratively). The film’s take on mental health and memory is poignant, even if it’s not exactly medically accurate. It’s less about science and more about the idea that love can be a melody you hum even when the lyrics slip away.
The Verdict: A Blockbuster for Your Heart and Your Playlist
Is Saiyaara perfect? Nah, it’s got flaws as noticeable as a plot hole in a sci-fi flick. The story’s predictability and occasional silliness might make you roll your eyes, and the second half could use a Red Bull or two. But does it deliver where it counts? Oh, absolutely. This is a movie that knows its audience—hopeless romantics, music lovers, and anyone who’s ever ugly-cried to a Bollywood ballad. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda are stars in the making, the music is a straight-up banger, and Mohit Suri proves he’s still the king of making you feel all the feels.
If you’re looking for a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece, you might want to keep scrolling. But if you want a movie that’ll make you laugh, cry, and add five new songs to your playlist, Saiyaara is your jam. It’s like a warm hug from your favorite auntie, served with a side of drama and a dollop of nostalgia. Go watch it in theaters, bring some tissues, and maybe don’t sit too close to the speakers unless you want to be serenaded into an emotional coma.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Because it’s not Aashiqui 2, but it’s got enough heart to make you believe in love, loss, and the power of a really good soundtrack.