Yash Raj Films‘ upcoming Bollywood romantic drama “Saiyaara” has shattered advance booking records for a debutant film in India, selling over 45,000 tickets across major theater chains in its first 24 hours of pre-sales.

The Mohit Suri-directed film, stars debutant Ahaan Panday, making his debut and emerging star Aneet Padda (Prime Video’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry”). Panday stars as Krish Kapoor, a rising musician whose raw talent and ambition set him on a collision course with the realities of the modern music industry. When Krish is introduced to Vaani (Aneet Padda), a gifted and principled songwriter, sparks fly – both creatively and personally. As their partnership deepens, so does their connection, blossoming into a romance that is as passionate as it is complicated.

The sales figures come from the PVR-INOX and Cinepolis chains, which typically account for 60-65% of Hindi-language film revenues in India.

The film’s marketing strategy has been notably unconventional, with the studio – known in India for both its romances and its spy universe – deliberately keeping the lead actors away from public appearances and interviews to build mystery around their debuts. Instead, the campaign has focused heavily on the film’s music and content.

“We set out to make a very pure film and I’m happy that it is connecting with the audience and making them want to see Saiyaara,” director Mohit Suri said. “We haven’t tried to oversell the film to the audience. Our campaign has been all heart and we are very happy with the response that we have got so far.”

The film’s soundtrack has been generating significant buzz, featuring tracks from prominent artists including Faheem-Arslan’s title track, Jubin Nautiyal’s “Barbaad,” Vishal Mishra’s “Tum Ho Toh,” Sachet-Parampara’s “Humsafar,” and Arijit Singh and Mithoon’s “Dhun,” along with reprises by Shreya Ghoshal and Shilpa Rao.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh noted the film’s advance success on X, writing: “What’s happening with #Saiyaara is nothing short of unprecedented. A film headlined by rank newcomers, backed only by a teaser, trailer, and a couple of songs… NO interviews, NO city visits, NO gimmicky reels – and yet, #Saiyaara is all set to shock and surprise the industry this Friday.”

The collaboration marks the first time Yash Raj Films has worked with Suri, who previously directed successful romantic dramas including “Aashiqui 2” and “Ek Villain.” The film is produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani.