For years, Bollywood insiders repeated the same refrain: theatrical audiences only want mass action spectacles. Post-pandemic box-office trends, driven by films like KGF and RRR, seemed to confirm the belief, while romantic dramas were routinely declared “dead.” But 2025 decisively proved otherwise. Three films — Saiyaara, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and Tere Ishk Mein — rewrote the rulebook and restored faith in old-school, emotionally charged love stories.
The biggest shock came in July with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara. Headlined by newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film was written off by trade watchers even as its music gained traction. Conventional wisdom suggested that if non-action films struggled with A-list stars, debutants had little chance. Yet, upon release, Saiyaara exploded at the box office, silencing sceptics overnight. Driven by chart-topping music, restrained promotions, and strong audience connect, the film went on to become the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema history — even surpassing Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in ticket sales.
While many dismissed Saiyaara as a one-off phenomenon, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat soon dismantled that argument. With Harshvardhan Rane, Sonam Bajwa, and director Milap Zaveri — none considered “bankable” at the time — the film emerged as 2025’s biggest sleeper hit. Powered by organic word of mouth and youth-driven buzz in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, it crossed ₹110 crore worldwide, reaffirming that strong emotional storytelling still pulls crowds.
The trend continued with Aanand L. Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. Despite doubts around whether intense, flawed romances could still work theatrically, the film collected ₹162 crore, largely on the strength of audience recommendation rather than hype or franchise value.
What united these successes was not star power or viral marketing, but word of mouth — a factor largely underestimated by the industry in recent years. In an era dominated by manufactured online buzz, 2025 reminded Bollywood that genuine audience connection still matters. Romance, long considered commercially risky, returned as a box-office force, proving that compelling love stories — when told honestly — remain timeless.