Lesser-known facts about Saiyaara actor Ahaan Panday

Who is Ahaan Panday?
Ahaan Panday hit stardom with Mohit Suri’s romantic drama, Saiyaara. The film’s success has helped the newcomer become an overnight sensation. Ahaan was born on December 23, 1997, to his parents, Chikki Panday and Deanne Panday.

Lived in a corridor
Ahaan Panday has admitted that he has been the “least pampered” member of the family. In a vlog posted on his sister Alanna Panday’s YouTube channel, Ahaan also admitted that he lived in a corridor for 7 years of his life till the age of 14. He lived in a room built in a corridor with an exit on one side, and the other side was his dad's and Dadi’s bedrooms.

Almost debuted
Before Saiyaara, Ahaan initially bagged a role in a superhero film alongside Ajay Devgn, but the project was eventually shelved due to COVID-19 delays. The reports have suggested that Ajay stepped down from the project, leading to its cancellation.

TikToker
Ahaan might have become an overnight superstar following Saiyaara's success, but he was initially called a ‘chapari’ TikToker by director Mohit Suri. Ahaan notably deleted all the videos from his social media before the release of the blockbuster romance drama.

Chain smoker
Ahaan Panday tried his first cigarette at the age of 16. The actor previously revealed that his sister, Alanna Panday, called him into her bathroom and she made him try my first cigarette. However, actor Nikhil Pandey has previously called Ahaan a ‘chain smoker’ when he was 21.

Denied connection to Chunky Panday
During a 2019 Instagram Live session with his fans, Ahaan, 19, was asked if he was somehow connected to Chunky Panday. Ahaan debunked the claims and suggested that he doesn’t have any connection to the actor. He said at the time, “It’s funny that my surname is Panday, but I’m nowhere connected to him. My dad is Aloke Sharad Panday, and that’s the only Panday connection I have. I have established myself in B‑town through my popularity.”

Fashion roots
Before entering the entertainment industry, Ahaan worked with fashion brand KOOVS, where he developed his sense of style and understanding of youth culture. He has also walked the runway for designer Nandita Mahtani.

Creative roots
Ahaan has worked as an assistant director for years before transitioning his career into acting. He worked on Netflix’s thriller series, The Railway Men and Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 2. He has also worked on Rock On 2 and Freaky Ali with the directors. Ahaan has also penned screenplays and acted in short films like Fifty and Jollywood.

Declined roles
Ahaan specifically waited for the right project even though he had other options. His perseverance paid off when Aditya Chopra extended an offer to him for Saiyaara, demonstrating his ability to make calculated career decisions.