Will Saiyaara join Bollywood's debut films success club? A preview of successful debutants and debut films

With Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter carrying film legacies, Dhadak opened to Rs 8.71 crore on Day 1 and went on to earn Rs 74 crore. As a remake of Sairat, it leveraged curiosity, emotion, and Dharma Productions’ sheen, setting a strong precedent for modern debut films.

Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra burst onto the scene with SOTY, which collected Rs 7.48 crore on Day 1 and Rs 70 crore lifetime. Backed by Karan Johar’s brand and youthful appeal, the film turned its newcomers into overnight stars.

Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor debuted with Saawariya, which opened at Rs 3 crore and ended at Rs 22 crore. Despite Sanjay Leela Bhansali's direction, it underperformed. However, both actors' talent shone through, earning them bigger projects down the line.

Hrithik Roshan’s debut was a phenomenon. Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai opened modestly at Rs 45 lakh but skyrocketed to Rs 44.1 crore. The film launched Hrithik into superstardom, rewriting the benchmarks for debut film success in Bollywood.

Vicky Kaushal made a powerful entry with Masaan, which earned just Rs 35 lakh on Day 1 and Rs 3.43 crore overall. Despite the low box office numbers, it garnered critical acclaim globally and positioned Vicky as a rising talent with substance.

From Tiger Shroff-Kriti Sanon’s action-packed Heropanti (Rs 53 crore) and Ayushmann Khurrana-Yami Gautam’s offbeat Vicky Donor (Rs 35 crore), to the modest outings of Refugee (Rs 17 crore) featuring Abhishek Bachchan-Kareena Kapoor, and Azaad (Rs 6.35 crore) starring Amaan Devgan-Rasha Thadani, debut films have seen mixed fates. Laila Majnu (Rs 11.5 crore), which marked the debut of Avinash Tiwary-Triptii Dimri, struggled in theatres but found a cult following online, proving that box office isn't the only path to lasting success.