The recent success of the film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has put its lead actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the spotlight. The movie, a romantic drama, has drawn comparisons to Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai due to the instant fame it has brought to the debutants.
Amidst the buzz surrounding Saiyaara, composer Tanishk Bagchi, who created the film's title track with Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami, has shared his thoughts on working with newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Bagchi emphasized the humility and innocence of the young actors. He observed that when working with fresh faces, the music composer often receives more recognition. In contrast, projects featuring established stars tend to focus attention on the actors and director first. Bagchi mentioned that upon seeing Ahaan and Aneet together, he instinctively knew that his song would resonate with them.
Ahaan Panday's journey to Bollywood began with formal education in filmmaking. He studied Cinematic Arts at the University of Mumbai and gained practical experience as an assistant director on films such as Freaky Ali, Rock On 2, and the Netflix series The Railway Men. This blend of academic learning and hands-on experience has shaped his understanding of the film industry.
Saiyaara marks Ahaan's official entry into acting under Yash Raj Films' talent management wing. The film's title track has achieved a historic milestone by climbing to No. 7 on the Spotify Global Top 50 chart, marking the first time a Hindi film song has reached the top 10 globally. The soundtrack has resonated with audiences, with all six tracks from Saiyaara charting in the Top 10 list on Spotify India. The title track also set a record by achieving 3.61 million streams on Spotify India in a single day, which is the highest ever for a Bollywood song.
Prior to Saiyaara, there were reports that Ahaan was initially slated to debut in a superhero film alongside Ajay Devgn, directed by Shiv Rawail, as part of YRF's 50th-anniversary celebrations. However, the project did not materialize.
An old short film titled Fifty, featuring a young Ahaan with his uncle Chunky Panday, has resurfaced, showcasing Ahaan's early acting talent. The film's heartwarming narrative and Ahaan's performance have been praised online. Despite Ahaan's success, actress Ameesha Patel has cautioned against comparing him to established stars like Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor, suggesting that Ahaan will grow in his own way with time.