'Thank God for Saiyaara': Karan Johar hopes Bollywood will go back to making love stories, says even south praised it
Karan Johar on Saiyaara's success
Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, starred newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead. It has become the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema, grossing over ₹500 crore worldwide. The film's success has also invited praise from outside Hindi cinema.
Talking about its impact in conversation with Suchin Mehrotra on The Streaming Show podcast, Karan Johar said, "We don't have the directors to mount those kinds of films (big-budget event films). So, if we can't, then thank God for Saiyaara. This, we can do. When I met Mohit Suri, he told me that all the filmmakers from the south called him, and it was so gratifying to know, because we are the ones calling them. We are always picking up the phone, telling them how incredible their films are."
'Let's go back to our storytelling'
Karan recalled how the tentpole films in Hindi cinema for Diwali or Eid in the 90s were always romantic dramas like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but it changed to action films later. "We do one thing well, so let's do that. Let's go back to our storytelling. There are some things that we do and only we can do, which is that wholesome film. Maybe we shouldn't attempt trying to do what doesn't come naturally to us," he added.
Karan himself shot to fame directing romantic dramas and family entertainers like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. His most recent film, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, grossed over ₹300 crore upon its release in 2023. Trade pundits saw its success as a sign that romantic films could work at the box office after a pandemic-induced lull.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'War 2' box office collection day 4: The Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Kiara Advani starrer mints over Rs. 170 crore; Rajinikanth's ‘Coolie' storms towards Rs. 200 crore by the end of the opening weekend
Picture Credit: X This Friday, the box office saw one of the biggest clashes of 2025, with the release of Hrithik Roshan , Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani's 'War 2' and Rajinikanth's 'Coolie.' Both movies are competing neck to neck, as the audience is giving immense love to each of the films. Though with the opening day collection of Rs. 52 crore and Rs. 65 crore respectively, 'Coolie' outshone 'War 2', the tables turned on Saturday. This clash between the titans is rapidly changing the box office dynamics. After completing four days, the verdict is that 'Coolie' is ahead in the race with a business close to Rs200 crore. However, 'War 2' isn't far behind, as it minted over Rs. 170 crore by the end of the opening weekend. 'War 2' box office collection day 4 update According to Sacnilk, on day 4, i.e, Sunday, 'War 2' made a business of Rs 31 crore (early estimates) across all languages in the domestic market. It is less than what the movie made on Saturday (which was Rs. 33.25 crore), yet it tried to maintain a steady pace at the box office after the major drop. With this, after 4 days of a successful theatrical release, 'War 2' has collected Rs. 173.60 crore in India net. If the movie maintains this pace, then it might be able to close in on Rs. 200 crore soon. Here is the day-wise breakdown of 'War 2' box office collection Day 1 [1st Thursday] ₹ 52 Cr [Hindi: Rs 29 Cr; Tamil: Rs 0.25 Cr; Telugu: Rs 22.75 Cr] Day 2 [1st Friday] ₹ 57.35 Cr [Hindi: Rs 44.5 Cr; Tamil: Rs 0.35 Cr; Telugu: Rs 12.5 Cr] Day 3 [1st Saturday] ₹ 33.25 Cr [Hindi: Rs 26 Cr; Tamil: Rs 0.3 Cr; Telugu: Rs 6.95 Cr] Day 4 [1st Sunday] ₹ 31.00 Cr * early estimates Total ₹ 173.60 Cr Rajinikanth's 'Coolie' takes the lead Released on August 14, Rajinikanth's 'Coolie' proved it is here to stay and slay from day one, and the saga thus started hasn't paused. Though on day 2, it got beaten in the box office game by 'War 2', it came back stronger. On day 4, i.e., Sunday, the movie generated a business of Rs. 34 crore, bringing its total to Rs. 193.25 crores across all languages in the domestic market. The film is expected to cross Rs. 200 crore with ease on Monday. 'War 2' Review The Times of India gave 'War 2' an impressive 3 out of 5 stars, and an excerpt from our review reads - 'War 2 offers high-octane moments, striking visuals, and polished production to make for a passable big-screen experience. Strictly watchable only if you're in it purely for the action and spectacle.' 'War 2' review: Stylish spy thriller with Hrithik–Jr NTR chemistry divides fans over story and VFX "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
‘Maareesan' OTT release: When and where to watch Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu's comedy thriller
Fahadh Faasil's critically acclaimed Tamil-language film 'Maareesan' is all set to make its digital debut on Netflix. The film will begin streaming soon and will be available in five languages — Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. 'Maareesan', which was released in cinemas on July 25, 2025, received strong reviews for its gripping storyline and standout performances. The film will arrive on Netflix on August 22. Directed by Sudheesh Sankar and written by V. Krishna Moorthy, the film is produced by R. B. Choudary under the Super Good Films banner. The music is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The story follows a mysterious road trip taken by a thief and an amnesiac patient. The thief, played by Fahadh Faasil, hopes to take advantage of the memory loss to access a large amount of money. However, the journey becomes more complicated as secrets unravel and the true identity of the amnesiac is called into question. The cast also features Vadivelu in a key role as Velayudham Pillai, with Kovai Sarala playing Assistant Commissioner Fareeda, Vivek Prasanna as Ganesh/Arun, Sithara as Meenakshi, and P. L. Thenappan as Inspector Kanagaraj. With a mix of suspense, drama, and dark humour, 'Maareesan' has been praised for its unique narrative and strong performances. Its arrival on Netflix is expected to draw an even wider audience, giving viewers who missed it in theatres a chance to watch the film at home.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
IIT Delhi students shake a leg to hit Katrina Kaif song. Netizens react: 'Nora Fatehi who?'
A lively performance by a group of students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has become a viral sensation online, winning hearts with their spirited dance to the popular Bollywood number Afghan Jalebi The clip, uploaded on Instagram by Rajat Mahaur, quickly exploded in popularity and has already crossed the million-view milestone. In the short video, captioned with a playful reminder that life at IIT is not limited to academics, the students—likely seniors staging a welcome for the incoming batch—take over the stage with remarkable confidence. Their moves radiate energy, and their teamwork draws loud cheers and whistles from classmates and juniors performance unfolds to Pritam's catchy track from the film Phantom. The dancers exhibit seamless coordination and unwavering enthusiasm, turning what could have been a simple welcome gesture into a memorable celebration of camaraderie and creativity on campus. The caption teasingly hints at aspirations beyond the moment, calling the showcase a step toward future dance on social media platforms have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. Comments poured in, blending admiration and humor. Some viewers felt the group deserved recognition on a larger stage, imagining them in a Bollywood music video. Others jokingly speculated about who among the performers was the leader, pointing out the student in glasses as a likely banter dominated much of the conversation. Viewers praised the cuteness and skill of the act, while one comment humorously dismissed established dance stars by asking who even needed Nora Fatehi when IIT students could dance with such flair. "Nora Fatehi who?" read the expressed lighthearted envy toward the spectator sitting comfortably and enjoying the live performance, confessing how lucky that person must have the mix of admiration and jokes, one witty observation noted that it was unusual to see seniors dancing for juniors rather than the other way around, highlighting the reversal of expectations and the unique charm of the is a Hindi-language action thriller released in 2015, helmed by filmmaker Kabir Khan. The project was backed by producers Sajid Nadiadwala and Siddharth Roy Kapur and featured Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif as the principal actors. The storyline for the movie was developed in close connection with journalist and crime writer Hussain Zaidi's novel Mumbai Avengers, which explores the repercussions and fallout of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
