When Saiyaara actor Ahaan Panday’s father Chikki helped bail Shah Rukh Khan out of jail

Chikki Pandey and SRK throwback

The industry has been blown away by Ahaan Panday's incredible debut in Saiyaara, which catapulted the young actor into instant fame.

Although Ahaan has received a lot of praise for his performance, his father, Aloke "Chikki" Panday, a well-known businessman with close connections to Bollywood's elite, has also come under scrutiny.

Chikki Panday’s connections in the industry run deep. His decades-long friendship with Shah Rukh Khan is well known.

In a lesser-known but fascinating episode from 1994, when Shah Rukh was arrested for allegedly threatening a journalist, it was Chikki, alongside actor Nana Patekar, who stepped in to bail him out, as reported by India Today.

That gesture further solidified their bond, which continues to this day. Interestingly, Ahaan also shares a close friendship with Aryan Khan, Shah Rukh’s son and an aspiring filmmaker.

Chikki’s strong ties with Salman Khan’s family are equally enduring. He maintains a deep camaraderie with actor-filmmaker Sohail Khan, and such is the trust between the families that the pre-wedding festivities for Chikki’s daughter Alanna were hosted at Sohail Khan’s Mumbai residence.

Chikki’s wife, Deanne Panday — a former model and now a renowned wellness expert — counts industry heavyweights like Salman Khan, Preity Zinta, Lara Dutta, and Bipasha Basu among her clientele. Salman has publicly supported her ventures on several occasions.

Notably, Chikki also played a quiet but crucial role in resolving one of Bollywood’s most talked-about rifts — the feud between Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. In 2013, he reportedly ensured both were seated together at politician Baba Siddiqui’s Iftaar party, helping pave the way for their reconciliation.

Chikki, who was born in Bombay in 1966, is the younger brother of actor Chunky Panday, who rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the son of renowned heart surgeon Sharad Panday.

Also Read: Is Saiyaara's Aneet Padda an outsider or an industry insider? Reddit user claims her ‘parents are owners of a film company '

While Chunky focused on films, Chikki made a name for himself in business and public service. He founded the Akshara Foundation of Arts & Learning, a non-profit organisation that uses education to uplift impoverished children, and served on government advisory committees.

Chikki Panday is still a private person despite his enormous contributions; he keeps a low profile and avoids the spotlight on social media, allowing his relationships and work to speak for themselves.