Ahaan Panday's debut film, "Saiyaara," is making waves in Bollywood, attracting praise from audiences and industry insiders alike. Among those who have expressed their admiration for the romantic musical is Shashank Khaitan, the director of "Dhadak".

"Saiyaara," directed by Mohit Suri, tells the story of Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), an aspiring journalist, and Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a young man dreaming of musical stardom. Their paths intertwine, leading to a deep and passionate love. However, their relationship faces numerous challenges, and the film explores how their love can overcome these obstacles.

The film's fresh pairing, chart-topping music, and intriguing trailer have resonated with viewers, proving that content and audience connection are key to success.

Khaitan's appreciation for "Saiyaara" is particularly noteworthy considering the records that "Saiyaara" has broken. "Saiyaara" has emerged as the biggest opener for debutants, surpassing the opening collection of "Dhadak" (2018), which Khaitan directed. "Dhadak," starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, had an opening of ₹8.71 crore, while "Saiyaara" has surpassed this figure. The film has also outperformed other popular movies with debutants, such as "Student Of The Year," directed by Karan Johar, which earned ₹7.48 crore on its first day in 2012.

"Saiyaara" has also achieved the distinction of being the fourth biggest opener of 2025, surpassing the first-day collections of "Raid 2" and "Sky Force".

The success of "Saiyaara" has stirred excitement within the Panday family. Ananya Panday, Ahaan's cousin, attended a special screening of the film and expressed her admiration for his performance. She shared photos on Instagram, proudly displaying an "Ahaan Panday Fan Club" sticker on her forehead and captioning the post with "A star is born".

Adding to the buzz around "Saiyaara," rumors are circulating about Ahaan Panday's personal life, with speculation about his relationship with actress and model Shruti Chauhan. Chauhan's positive review of the film and affectionate Instagram posts have fueled the rumors, leaving fans curious about a potential romance between the two.

Despite the buzz surrounding "Saiyaara," Karan Johar is moving forward with the release of "Dhadak 2". "Dhadak 2," starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, is slated to release on August 1, setting up a box office clash with "Son of Sardaar 2". "Dhadak 2" is directed by Shazia Iqbal and is reportedly a remake of the Tamil film "Pariyerum Perumal". The original "Dhadak" was a remake of the Marathi film "Sairat".