Ahaan Panday became an overnight sensation after starring in the recently released film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and co-starring Aneet Padda. In an interview, Mohit revealed that Ahaan had originally been signed to star in a large-scale project at YRF, but studio head Aditya Chopra pulled the plug on it because it was no longer feasible in the current market climate. Ahaan, who had told everyone that he was going to be launched by YRF, was left with egg on his face. He’d been groomed for half-a-decade by YRF, and now, Aditya Chopra was telling him that he was free to look for work elsewhere.
Mohit Suri praised Ahaan for sticking with YRF, who offered him the opportunity to star in the romantic drama Saiyaara. Mohit said that the decision was left up to him, and he wasn’t impressed initially. But he changed his mind after he spent some time with Ahaan in his natural habitat, a bar filled with folks his age. In an interview with Komal Nahta, he reflected on Ahaan’s state of mind after the initial setback. “They could easily make a web series on the making of Saiyaara; all of us have had our journeys with the film,” he said.
Mohit continued, “Ahaad had actually been workshopping with YRF for seven years. He was supposed to do a larger-than-life film before the pandemic. But the project was cancelled, because, as you know, the industry changed. Overnight, his pride and ‘guroor’ was killed. The same kid who was going around telling everyone that he would be launched by YRF was heartbroken. People started saying to him, ‘You were bragging about being launched by YRF, what now?’”
Mohit said that Aditya Chopra even told Ahaan that he was free to look for work elsewhere. “I know that Adi sir called him after the pandemic, and told him that his faith in his talent hasn’t decreased even one bit, but that he could start looking for opportunities outside the studio if he wanted to. ‘You don’t need to hang on here, you can look for work elsewhere’, he was told. But the kid was adamant that he could only be launched by YRF, and it worked.”
Saiyaara has emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year, and one of the biggest hits to feature two newcomers in the lead roles. The film has grossed over Rs 400 crore worldwide, a number that movies featuring major stars have struggled to hit in recent years. Ahaan is the son of businessman Chikki Panday; his uncle is actor Chunky Panday, and his cousin is actor Ananya Panday.
