(Credits: Yash Raj Films)

When was the last time you actually watched a Bollywood romance on Netflix?

We don’t mean some viral song clip on YouTube rehashed ad nauseam, or something playing in the background at a wedding. By watching, we mean properly sitting down and letting yourself be pulled into all that (melo)drama, music, and romance.

If you aren’t quite sure about your answer and have been meaning to rectify your ways, you might want to check Netflix tonight, because a new Bollywood love story is quickly taking over. We are of course talking about Saiyaara.

Saiyaara follows Krish Kapoor, a musician in the making, who along with his big dreams and past traumas lives in a world all his own. On the other end, you have Vaani Batra, a writer-turned-poet who is quiet, cautious and is nursing the aftermath of a broken promise. Their worlds collide when they realise their potential for collaboration, which leads to Krish being enamoured by Vaani’s candour and the layers to her, while his support helps her slowly open up through her writing.

True to form, their happy association turns sour as life hits them with something neither expected. Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, so what started as a story of shared ambition and romance soon becomes a test of memory and loyalty. Now Krish has to decide between chasing his musical success or being there for the one who lifted him up when she needs him most.

The funny thing is, it didn’t land with loud marketing or endless hype. It just showed up, and then, almost overnight, started climbing the charts. Suddenly, it’s everywhere, mesmerising people with a classic story made fresh, to the point where world-of-mouth and Instagram clips have done more promotion for it than the actual bigwigs.

Saiyaara hit US theatres on July 18th and quickly became the second biggest Indian film of 2025, as well as the top-grossing Indian romance ever.

What’s the secret behind Sayiaara’s success?

This movie worked because it leans into the things Bollywood does best. You get two leads with palpable chemistry, families whose opposition hits like nails on a chalkboard, and dreamy music that lulls you into a comforting embrace, but the twists keep dragging you into heartache. However, it’s not your typical Romeo and Juliet fare, and the defence is just enough to raise the stakes without making it absurd.

If you enjoy the typical Bollywood romance of those rain-drenched moments where a single look says more than a five-minute monologue, then this film has to be your next watch. And of course, you get big and unashamedly emotional songs that stick with you even after the movie ends.

The reason why this blockbuster offering might be doing so well also has to do with timing. Lately, everything feels heavy. The world of cinema is filled with back-to-back dark thrillers, crime dramas and complicated political stories, and sometimes you just want to sit down with a tale that lets you believe in love again. The kind where coincidences matter and families come around, and the ending actually feels earned. This film doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is and that’s exactly what people seem to need.

As for Netflix, it’s another win in its growing Bollywood catalogue. Over the past few years, the platform has experimented with everything from star-studded blockbusters to small indie gems, and it’s clear from chart performances the investment is paying off. But Saiyaara doesn’t just fill a category but stands proof that Bollywood romances are still global currency, and that people across the world fall for them the same as Indian audiences have since time immemorial.

So if you have been endlessly scrolling, unsure of what to watch, maybe this is your sign to let yourself get carried away by the music, the colours, the conflicts and the story.