Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara has emerged as Netflix’s most-watched non-English film worldwide during its debut week, according to data released by Netflix’s official platform, Tudum. The Hindi film edged out international competitors, including the German thriller Fall For Me, to secure the top rank.
Viewing Numbers and Competition
- Saiyaara recorded 3.7 million views and 9.3 million hours viewed during its first week on Netflix globally.
- Fall For Me came in second with 6.5 million hours viewed, while Inspector Zende, a Hindi original starring Manoj Bajpayee, was in third with 6.2 million hours viewed.
- Another Indian film, Kingdom (featuring Vijay Deverakonda), was ranked ninth in Netflix’s non-English global list, logging 2.5 million viewing hours during the same period.
Plot Overview & Creative Team
Saiyaara follows the story of a singer and a songwriter whose relationship is challenged when one of them is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The film marks Mohit Suri’s return to romance after more than a decade and stars debut actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead roles.
Production is backed by Yash Raj Films, with writing by Sankalp Sadanah. Saiyaara’s theatrical release was on July 18, 2025, and it later became available for streaming on Netflix from September 12, 2025.
Box Office Success & Records
Before streaming, Saiyaara was already a major commercial hit:
- It grossed approx. ₹500+ crore globally during theatrical run.
- It became the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema history.
- It ranked as the second-highest grosser among all Indian films in 2025.
Reaction From Leads
In a video message shared by Netflix India, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda expressed deep gratitude to the international audience:
“For giving Saiyaara all the love in the world, we love you forever and ever and ever. Saiyaara is trending globally on Netflix, only because of you. Thank you for watching and rewatching, and rewatching.”
Implications for Indian Cinema & Streaming
- Saiyaara’s achievement underscores the growing global appetite for Indian romantic dramas, especially with strong emotional narratives.
- Its success over non-English titles from other countries suggests Indian films are increasingly competitive on Netflix’s global platform.
- The film’s dual strength, both box office performance and OTT traction, highlights a rising trend: that strong theatrical success can translate into streaming dominance.
What Sets Saiyaara Apart
Several factors appear to have worked in Saiyaara’s favour:
- Fresh Faces with Strong Impact: Debut actors in lead roles with high visibility, which is less common in high-grossing romantic films.
- Emotional Resonance: A storyline dealing with memory loss and love, which audiences find moving.
- Soundtrack & Music: The music has been a major draw, adding to word-of-mouth momentum.
- Global Reach via Netflix: Releasing on Netflix across many territories (over 190 countries) ensured viewership beyond India’s borders.
Looking Ahead
With Saiyaara setting a new benchmark, industry watchers will be keen to see whether future Indian romantic films can replicate or exceed its OTT performance. There is also interest in seeing if streaming platforms will invest more heavily in marketing non-English films globally, given the evident potential.
By – Sonali