21 November,2025 11:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ahaan Panday
Businessman Chikki Panday's son, Ahaan Panday, made a smashing debut in the industry with Mohit Suri's Saiyaara. The film starred him alongside Aneet Padda and went on to become a rage. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about dealing with public perception as he shunned the star kid tag. He also revealed why his sister Ananya didn't give him any advice ahead of his debut.
In an interview with GQ, Ahaan responded to a question about how star kids deal with public perception. He shared, "I can't speak from experience because Chikki Pandey is not a star. But if I have to speak on behalf of my friends, I think each has their own trials and tribulations."
"I've always felt like the place I come from is behind a fence. I can reach out through it, but I can't quite touch what's on the other side. Even as a child, I felt that way - surrounded by the film industry, but never really in it. What I consider my privilege is that I got to see it all up close. Being around people who were excelling in the industry taught me a lot from the other side of that fence," the actor added.
During the conversation, Ahaan lauded Ananya's journey and said, "She's never personally given me advice, but her journey has inspired me. People don't realise how young she was when she started. She has grown with the industry, and in just a few years, has evolved so much as an artist. Watching your little sister move mountains - that just makes you proud."
Ahaan revealed that his parents were initially unsure about his decision to pursue acting. He shared, "While my uncle Chunky Panday has done phenomenally well in his career and become a household name, he's had his ups and downs. My dad saw that and wondered if this was the right path for me."
Ahaan is riding the high of Saiyaara's success right now. The Mohit Suri film is one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025. Ahaan Panday will next be seen in Ali Abbas Zafar's action romance film, alongside Sharvari. Mid-day had earlier confirmed that Bobby Deol will join the film as Ahaan's rival, while Aaishvary Thackeray will also play the antagonist.
