Modern Love, Filmy Heart: Lessons for South Asian Singles from Saiyaara

As someone who grew up on a steady diet of Yash Raj Films—Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mohabbatein—I didn’t just consume Bollywood; I absorbed it. Those iconic 90s and early 2000s romances weren’t just stories to me; they were templates. They taught me that love is worth fighting for, that family approval matters (even if it’s hard-won), and that romance should be all-consuming, dramatic, and backed by an unforgettable soundtrack. Somewhere along the way, Bollywood lost that sparkle. More explosions, more CGI, more spectacle—but less soul.

Enter Saiyaara.

Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday in 'Saiyaara' (2025)

This sleeper hit came out of nowhere—unknown leads, a tried-and-true “bad boy meets good girl” storyline, and all the tropes we’ve seen before. And yet, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe it was nostalgia. Maybe it was the chemistry between Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Or maybe—and this is what I believe—it reminded us all of something we had quietly mourned: the grand romance. The kind where love is inconvenient, painful, selfless, and transformational.

Watching Saiyaara made me fall in love with Bollywood again. But more than that, it made me reflect deeply on love in real life—specifically, how South Asian singles in the diaspora are navigating dating today.

What Saiyaara Can Teach Us About Love—and Ourselves

1. Love is Meant to Make You Better
   In Saiyaara, Krish seeks Vaani’s help to elevate his career. But when she falls ill, he’s willing to give it all up to care for her. Love isn’t just about butterflies and chemistry. It’s about showing up, especially when it’s inconvenient. For South Asian singles, especially those raised between cultures, this is a reminder: the right partner is one who makes you more of who you were meant to be.

2. Shared Vision Sustains Relationships
   Krish and Vaani didn’t just love each other—they had a shared goal: to help his dream come true. In dating, we often focus on “do we vibe?” or “is there chemistry?” But long-term love is built on aligned values, goals, and life visions. It’s not enough to want each other—you have to want a future together.

3. Real Love Requires Sacrifice
   Vaani steps away from the relationship not because she doesn’t love him, but because she does. It’s a classic Bollywood moment—but also a truth we often ignore. In an age of hyper-independence and casual dating, we forget that love sometimes requires giving something up for someone else’s gain.

4. Healing Through Love is Real
   One of the most beautiful aspects of Saiyaara is how both characters grow, grieve, and find purpose again—through love. I see this in my own matchmaking work, especially with second-time Shaadi clients. Pain doesn’t disqualify you from love; it often makes you more ready for it.

5. Love Can Still Be Filmy—Even in Real Life
   The sweeping soundtracks, the rain-soaked monologues, the big emotions—we don’t need to leave these behind just because we’re dating in America. South Asian love stories are allowed to be big, bold, and beautiful. We just have to believe in them again.

Why Saiyaara Resonates with the Diaspora

There’s something deeply comforting about seeing our culture portrayed with so much heart. The film doesn’t shy away from modern India—it includes references to going viral, nepo babies, and pop culture outlets—but it does so while keeping one foot firmly planted in the traditions of cinematic romance. That’s exactly the tightrope so many South Asian singles are walking. We want progressive relationships, but we still crave cultural familiarity. We want love marriages—but with the depth, intention, and timelessness our parents’ arranged marriages modeled.

So many of us are chasing “the spark,” but Saiyaara reminds us: the spark is only the beginning. The real work—and the real magic—comes in the quiet moments of devotion, sacrifice, and growth.

For the South Asian Single Reading This:

If you’ve ever felt like modern dating is too transactional, too shallow, or too fast-paced—Saiyaara is a reminder that there’s still room for stories (and real lives) shaped by romance, resilience, and real connection. You’re not asking for too much if you want love that feels meaningful. You're just living in a world that often forgets what love is supposed to be.

Keep believing. Your Saiyaara moment might be just around the corner.