Akshay Kumar explains why Ahaan-Aneet's Saiyaara worked, says hit films don't need events: 'They were lucky that the film took off'

Akshay Kumar believes that a film doesn't need a grand promotional event or a larger-than-life spectacle to become a box office success. The actor cited the blockbuster success of Saiyaara as an example, saying the romantic drama won audiences over purely through its music, romance and performances.Speaking to IANS, Akshay was asked about the growing belief that only event films and multi-starrers are succeeding in theatres, a view recently echoed by actor R Madhavan.'If it's in the destiny of the film, it will work'Responding to the debate, Akshay said a film's success ultimately depends on its destiny."If it is in the destiny of the film, it runs successfully one way or the other," he said.The actor then pointed to Saiyaara, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, as proof that content can triumph without elaborate promotional events.'Which event did Saiyaara have?'Recalling the film, Akshay asked director Ahmed Khan, who was present during the interaction, to remind him of its title."Recently, a film came out with a new boy and a new girl. What was that film?" he asked.After Ahmed Khan replied, "Saiyaara," Akshay continued, "Yes, Saiyaara. Which event did the film have? I want to ask, what event did the film have? There was no event. It's just that its songs worked, and the romance in the film worked. That caught on. The boy and the girl performed well, and they were lucky that the film took off."About SaiyaaraDirected by Mohit Suri and backed by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara starred debutant Ahaan Panday alongside Aneet Padda. The romantic drama emerged as one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters of 2025, becoming the third highest-grossing Hindi film of the year and the highest-grossing Indian romantic film of all time.The film is also believed to be loosely inspired by the 2004 South Korean romantic drama A Moment to Remember.Read the latest Entertainment News and Celebrity updates. Download the TOI App.