Before Saiyaara actor Ahaan Panday became a star, this actor ruled the box office; he’s still a superstar after 44 years, his name is…

Visually, the comparisons are striking. Sanjay rocked the bell-bottoms and high-neck sweaters of the '80s; Ahaan sports the soft-boy Gen-Z aesthetic with brooding eyes and emotional vulnerability.

Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda have already broken multiple records, their big Bollywood launch directed by Mohit Suri and backed by none other than Yash Raj Films. For a pair of newcomers, they couldn’t have asked for a louder debut than Saiyaara.

The film raked in Rs 21 crore on day one and crossed the Rs 100 crore mark within just four days of release. To date, Saira has earned Rs 109 crore, making it not just Mohit Suri’s biggest opener ever but also one of 2025’s most surprising box office storms.

Who is Ahaan Pandey, and why is he being compared to Sanjay Dutt?

Social media can’t stop drawing parallels between Ahaan’s look in Saira and Sanjay Dutt’s iconic debut in Rocky (1981). While the eras and aesthetics are vastly different, the vibe, emotional yet stylish romantic leads on a bullet bike, has fans talking. 

“Ahaan reminds me of young Sanjay in Rocky,” says one fan, while others are busy posting side-by-side comparisons of the bike sequences from both films.

Is the comparison valid?

Well, Rocky was made by Sanjay’s father, Sunil Dutt and was considered a grand launchpad. Saiyaara carries a similar launch weight, produced by YRF and directed by an established filmmaker. Budgeted at Rs 39 crore, Saira covered its entire cost by day two. 

Visually, the comparisons are striking. Sanjay rocked the bell-bottoms and high-neck sweaters of the ’80s; Ahaan sports the soft-boy Gen-Z aesthetic with brooding eyes and emotional vulnerability. Both styles scream “romantic hero of the decade,” just in different languages.

What’s the film about, and why is everyone watching it?

Saira is an emotional, musical romantic drama—very Mohit Suri. The film positions Ahaan as a soft-spoken hero dealing with heartbreak and healing. His chemistry with Anit Padda is being praised, and the songs have already found viral traction. That, combined with a stylised narrative and social media buzz, explains its supercharged success.

With theatres conquered, Saira is now gearing up for its OTT release. The digital rights have already been picked up (platform details awaited), and fans are already queuing up for repeat watches online.