When Saiyaara (2025) stormed into theatres with Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, it wasn’t just another star launch. The film opened to a staggering Rs 576 crore worldwide and instantly positioned the newcomers as Bollywood’s latest sensations. A sweeping love story set to a haunting soundtrack, Saiyaara reminded audiences that Hindi cinema has long been partial to debut pairs who arrive with undeniable chemistry, a clean narrative arc, and songs that outlive the film.But Ahaan and Aneet are far from the first. From the cassette-era romances of the ’80s to the multiplex-age debuts of the 2000s, Bollywood has repeatedly watched fresh duos turn into overnight stars. The formula has usually been simple: new faces, emotional stories, and music that refuses to leave your head. Here’s a look back at the debut pairs who blazed the trail before Saiyaara.
Love Story (1981): Kumar Gaurav and Vijayta Pandit
The ’80s opened with Love Story, which transformed Kumar Gaurav and Vijayta Pandit into teen idols. Among the top five hits of 1981, it collected Rs 11 crore in India — big numbers for its time. A breezy romance with hummable tracks, it proved how newcomers could become instant poster icons.
Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981): Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri
The same year, Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri made their Hindi debut with Ek Duuje Ke Liye. A tragic romance, it earned Rs 4.75 crore and carved its place in cultural memory. For Kamal, it was a crossover from southern cinema, but for Hindi audiences, the pairing felt fresh. The raw emotion, paired with unforgettable melodies, made the film immortal.
Betaab (1983): Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh
Two years later came Betaab, introducing Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh. Their fiery romance, set against a rugged backdrop, earned Rs 13.5 crore, becoming the second-highest grosser of 1983. Sunny may have been a star kid, but Amrita’s charisma made her an instant household name.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988): Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla
By the late ’80s, QSQT redefined young romance. Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla’s chemistry made it a cult classic, with Rs 2.85 crore nett collections and a soundtrack that dominated the nation. The Romeo-Juliet template, paired with Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik’s voices, showed how music could turn debutants into legends.
Maine Pyar Kiya (1989): Salman Khan and Bhagyashree
A year later, Salman Khan and Bhagyashree raised the stakes with Maine Pyar Kiya. The year’s top grosser at Rs 28 crore, it turned Salman into a superstar overnight, even though Bhagyashree soon stepped away from films. Once again, it was the purity of romance and chartbusting music that brought audiences back in droves.
Aashiqui (1990): Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal
If QSQT and MPK treated music as a bonus, Aashiqui made it the main event. With Rs 4.5 crore in collections, the numbers weren’t extraordinary, but the soundtrack became the highest-selling Hindi album ever. Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal became household names, while T-Series proved that music-first marketing could make stars out of outsiders.
Barsaat (1995): Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna
The mid-’90s brought Barsaat, which introduced Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna. Backed by heavyweight lineage — Dharmendra’s son, Rajesh Khanna’s daughter — the film grossed Rs 20 crore. Strong Nadeem-Shravan music helped the duo click, even if it didn’t match the cultural impact of QSQT or MPK.
Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000): Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel
The new millennium exploded with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. With Rs 44.6 crore nett, it was the year’s biggest hit. Hrithik Roshan’s double role and dancing frenzy created hysteria, while Ameesha Patel found stardom as his foil. Much like Saiyaara, both leads shared credit for the film’s triumph, though Hrithik’s superstardom tilted the balance.
Ishaqzaade (2012): Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra
This gritty romance earned Rs 45.73 crore nett and marked a shift from musical fairy tales to earthy, politically charged storytelling. Arjun and Parineeti’s explosive chemistry showed that fiery realism could be just as effective as syrupy love songs.
Heropanti (2014): Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon
With Rs 52.9 crore nett, Heropanti launched two new stars in the multiplex age. Tiger leaned into action while Kriti held her own, setting herself up as one of Bollywood’s most bankable heroines. This was less about romance, more about market-savvy genre blending.
Sanam Teri Kasam (2016, Re-release 2025): Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane
Once dismissed at the box office, Sanam Teri Kasam found redemption with its 2025 re-release, grossing Rs 33 crore nett and lifting its lifetime tally to Rs 41 crore. It became Bollywood’s most successful re-release, proving that cult romances sometimes just need time.
Saiyaara (2025): Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda
And finally, Saiyaara. With a jaw-dropping Rs 576 crore worldwide, it eclipsed many predecessors in sheer scale. Yet the fundamentals remain familiar: two new faces, a soulful soundtrack, and a love story that speaks directly to its audience. What makes it contemporary is its layering of poetry, music, and themes of trauma and healing — a formula that resonates with Gen Z while echoing the legacy of QSQT and Aashiqui.
Same melody, new medium
Across four decades, Bollywood has known one truth: the safest bet for launching debut pairs is romance wrapped in unforgettable music. Whether through cassette tapes, CDs, or Spotify playlists, the distribution keeps changing, but the formula hasn’t. Go to Source
