Saiyaara buzz: comeback of Bollywood’s romance era?

In recent years, Bollywood, once celebrated for its larger-than-life romances, soulful music, and heart-tugging dramas, seemed to have lost its rhythm. The multi-billion-dollar industry increasingly leaned on hyper-nationalism and formula-driven action, leaving behind the genre that made it globally loved: romance. For audiences yearning for stories of love, sacrifice, and heartbreak, there was little to hold on to. But the winds have shifted. Enter Saiyaara (2025), a film that has not only reignited interest in the romance genre but also sparked comparisons with some of Bollywood’s most beloved love sagas.

But while today’s viewers sigh over Saiyaara, we will delve into some movies which have been released in the last two decades or so, and have tugged at the hearts in a similar way.

A love story

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced under the Yash Raj Films banner, Saiyaara is a Hindi romantic musical drama that follows the lives of Vaani (Aneet Padda), a sensitive lyricist still healing from betrayal, and Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an ambitious singer chasing his dreams. Their paths intersect in a production house, where Vaani begins an internship. What starts as a simple encounter blossoms into a journey filled with poetry, music, and deep emotional resonance.

The film’s name, Saiyaara, meaning “wandering star”, reflects its bittersweet narrative. With music by Mithoon, Sachet–Parampara, Rishabh Kant, and Vishal Mishra, the soundtrack becomes the heartbeat of the story. Social media is flooded with posts from viewers who admit they left the cinema in tears.

More than just a film, audiences describe Saiyaara as an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Remake or revival?

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice similarities between Saiyaara and the 2004 Korean classic A Moment to Remember, particularly the element of the heroine’s Alzheimer’s struggle. While Bollywood has long been criticised for unannounced remakes, Saiyaara isn’t a carbon copy, instead, it borrows themes and reshapes them into a uniquely Indian emotional landscape (which is a safe way of saying, yes we copied).

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However, what makes it stand out is the sincerity. The film avoids excessive melodrama and stays grounded in raw emotion. Critics note that it delivers something rare in contemporary Bollywood: a straightforward, heartfelt love story. Released in an era when young audiences under 30 had almost forgotten what a pure romance feels like on the big screen, mistaking Animal and Kabir Singh for romances, Saiyaara feels like a breath of fresh air.

A time of Bollywood romances

Bollywood’s history is rich with love stories that etched themselves into cultural memory. With its emotional depth and heartbreaking arc, Saiyaara now finds itself in conversation with these, but be warned, the farther you step back, you would be be pulled into a romance blackhole which is why these films can still be called recent as opposed to the Silsilas, and Kabhi Kabhies.

Rockstar (2011)

Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar gave audiences an unforgettable exploration of love and loss. Ranbir Kapoor’s Jordan, who dreams of becoming a rockstar, discovers that fame comes at the cost of heartbreak when his beloved Heer (Nargis Fakhri) dies. Its haunting dialogues and soul-stirring music left audiences devastated, cementing the film as a modern cult classic.

Tere Naam (2003)

Salman Khan’s Tere Naam told the tragic tale of Radhey, whose violent streak and ill fate lead him to a mental asylum, only to find that his lover has also taken her own life. It was raw, painful, and emotionally gripping, the kind of storytelling that leaves a scar.

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

Few films capture the bittersweetness of life and love like Kal Ho Naa Ho. Shah Rukh Khan’s Aman, secretly battling a fatal heart ailment, sacrifices his love for Naina (Preity Zinta) and unites her with Rohit (Saif Ali Khan).

Overflowing with joy, heartbreak, and hope, it remains one of Bollywood’s most evergreen romances.

Raanjhanaa (2013)

Featuring Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush, Raanjhanaa showcased unrequited love in its rawest form. Kundan’s unconditional devotion to Zoya, even at the cost of his own life, made for a devastatingly poignant finale. His dying words, that he would choose the same love all over again, resonated deeply with audiences. The film’s end is so painful that the producers decided to use AI to alter the ending to a more hopeful one.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

This Sanjay Leela Bhansali classic portrayed love and sacrifice at its peak. Nandini (Aishwarya Rai), torn between her first love Sameer (Salman Khan) and her husband Vanraj (Ajay Devgn), ultimately recognises the depth of Vanraj’s devotion. It showcased love’s transformative power, not just in passion but in sacrifice.

Why Saiyaara matters now

In a cinematic landscape dominated by high-octane thrillers and political dramas, Saiyaara dares to be vulnerable. It offers simplicity, poetry, and emotional honesty — the very ingredients that once defined Bollywood globally.

For Millennials who grew up on Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic romances, Saiyaara may not offer something entirely new. But for Gen Z audiences, many of whom haven’t seen a sweeping love story in years, it feels refreshing and cathartic. The tears shed in theatres, the emotional reviews online, and the film’s rising buzz all signal a comeback of the very essence of Bollywood: love stories that stay with you.

Saiyaara kids won’t get how we survived this scene.
pic.twitter.com/w1NzzbBj6B

— Siiiiuuuuu (@wakeupsahil_) August 19, 2025

As Bollywood circles back to its roots, Saiyaara stands tall as proof that the timeless formula of music, poetry, and heartbreak still works. It doesn’t just revive the romance genre, it reminds us why we fell in love with Bollywood in the first place.