Saiyaara is in the air these days despite having a blockbuster in the theatres—and let’s be honest, who isn’t inhaling it? Bollywood is finally “bollywooding” again after ages, and I must say, it feels refreshing because of the story. Written by Sankalp Sadanah, surprisingly (and honestly praiseworthy). It has collected 150 CR in its first week of release. Despite featuring a ‘nepo kid’ in the lead. Therefore, he managed to escape the infamous boycott trend that once shook even the biggest banners. Even Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par was caught recently. However, Ahaan Pandey found himself extremely lucky. And credit? Well, that goes straight to the lead duo and their unexpectedly gripping performances.
After the release of Sitaare Zameen Par, it was a big tough time for Saiyaara. A Mohit Suri film, which hit theatres on 18 July 2025, stars newly budding actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. They were the talk of the town as soon as the release date was announced. The plot goes like… no, we’re not getting into that today. Instead, let’s shift the spotlight to the two fresh faces of B-town — the very talented Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.
According to public movie reviews, Aneet Padda was a perfect casting against Ahaan. She is gorgeous, beautiful, and perfectly finds a balance between cuteness and her performance in the movie. Honestly, I could keep listening to her while just looking at her face for hours. But only admiring her beauty would be unfair to her talent. She delivered such a natural performance in Saiyaara, it’s hard to believe this was her debut, leaving the audience astonished.
Watch Saiyaara Trailer
Well, let’s clear that up. Before her big break in Saiyaara, Aneet had already made a mark through several high-profile ad campaigns for brands like Maggie, Cadbury, Nescafé, and Paytm. Since the movie’s release, those older ad clips have resurfaced across social media, drawing even more love from fans.
In 2022, she also had a small role in Salaam Venky alongside Kajol. But it was 2024 that truly turned the spotlight on her — with a lead role in Amazon Prime’s Big Girls Don’t Cry she proved she was more than just a pretty face. And now, Saiyaara has sealed her place as one of B-town’s brightest rising stars.
Ahaan Panday Steps Out of the Shadow
After the Khans and Kapoors, it looks like the Pandays are aiming to rule Bollywood’s hearts. Ahaan Pandey was once introduced as “Ananya Panday’s cousin” — but post Saiyaara, he no longer needs that tag anymore. He’s made a name for himself, not from his background or father’s rooted connection in Bollywood, but from his hard work.
People often say that being a star kid makes it easier to get movies, which led to controversies and boycott trends on social media — and maybe that’s true. However, the criticism is also a lot harsher. Even before a film releases, you get trolled and labelled a ‘nepo baby’. But Ahaan Panday has managed to rise above all that. With Saiyaara, he’s become a fan favourite. And no, he didn’t just walk onto the set out of nowhere. Before his debut, Ahaan worked behind the scenes as an assistant director in films like Freaky Ali, Rock On 2, and the Netflix series The Railway Men. That experience helped him understand the craft, and you can see that in his acting.
As far as I know, the chemistry between Ahaan and Aneet, especially for two newcomers, is appreciated by the audience. Fans are loving them as a pair and the performance they did in the movie. Their scenes together don’t feel forced or overdone; there’s an ease and spark that just clicks. Let’s be real, we were all getting a little tired of watching 50-year-old heroes romancing 20-year-old heroines. Saiyaara feels like a welcome change in the Bollywood industry.
