Mohit Suri’s romantic blockbuster “Saiyaara”, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has added another major accolade to its journey by securing the Popular Choice Award at the Yellowstone International Film Festival 2025.
“Saiyaara”, which has emerged as one of Indian cinema’s most successful love stories, continues to ride high with both critical and commercial acclaim. Released on July 18, the film grossed an impressive ₹570 crore worldwide and gained widespread praise for its music, performances and direction.
Producer and YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, along with director Mohit Suri, accepted the award at a ceremony held in Mumbai. An emotional Suri said, “This is really special. I’ve been around for 20 years, and this is my first award.”
Known for films like Aashiqui 2 and Kalyug, Suri highlighted how deeply meaningful the film’s success is, especially since it marked his first collaboration with Yash Raj Films.
He also reflected on his childhood inspiration, recalling his first viewing of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: “That was the moment the bug bit me. I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker.”
Expressing gratitude, Suri thanked YRF’s Akshaye Widhani and recalled narrating the script to Aditya Chopra and Widhani: “They loved it and said they wanted to make it.” He shared that YRF had asked for “the best film and the best music”—a promise the team lived up to, especially with the film’s title track creating history as the first Hindi song to break into the Billboard Top 10 worldwide.
The debut of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda has drawn comparisons to the iconic launch of Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Calling the milestone “a moment of pride,” Widhani said, “Being the highest-grossing love story of all time makes us really proud.”
He credited the entire team for the achievement: “This award is for the entire cast and crew that worked tirelessly to make this film what it is.”
Saiyaara follows the emotional journey of Krish Kapoor, played by Ahaan Panday, a budding singer chasing big dreams, and Vaani Batra, portrayed by Aneet Padda, an aspiring journalist. The story explores how ambition, family expectations and personal conflicts shape their relationship, making it a compelling modern romantic drama.