Karan Johar has once again expressed his admiration for Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, a romantic drama that has taken Indian cinema by storm. Speaking in a recent conversation with critic Suchin Mehrotra on The Streaming Show podcast, Johar said the film’s triumph proves that Bollywood can still excel in the kind of storytelling that once defined its identity: timeless love stories.
The 2010s marked a clear departure from romance-driven dramas to high-octane action spectacles, many of which were remakes of South Indian blockbusters. Bollywood’s biggest names, including Shah Rukh Khan—long celebrated as the “king of romance”—embraced action-heavy films like Pathaan and Jawan. But then came Saiyaara, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, which reshaped the conversation.
Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara has become the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema, surpassing $60 million worldwide. Its impact has gone beyond Hindi cinema, drawing admiration from South Indian filmmakers who praised the movie’s execution and sincerity. Johar shared that when he met Suri, the director revealed he received congratulatory calls from South’s top filmmakers—a reversal of the usual dynamic where Bollywood often looks southward for inspiration.
“Thank God for Saiyaara,” Johar remarked. “Big-budget action spectacles may not be what we do best. What we can do—and have done for decades—is create wholesome, heartfelt love stories. Maybe it’s time to go back to what we truly know and celebrate our storytelling traditions.”
Johar himself is no stranger to this genre. He rose to fame with iconic romantic dramas such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which defined the Hindi film landscape of the 1990s and early 2000s. His most recent success, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, earned over $36 million globally in 2023, proving that well-made romantic dramas still resonate with audiences.
Reflecting on past traditions, Johar noted how Diwali and Eid releases in earlier decades were anchored by sweeping love stories, not action spectacles. He urged filmmakers to draw from that heritage, saying, “We do one thing better than anyone else—let’s celebrate it instead of chasing what doesn’t come naturally to us.”
As Saiyaara continues to run successfully in theaters, its impact is sparking industry-wide conversations about whether Bollywood is finally ready to embrace its romantic heart once again.
