Forget audition! THIS is how Ahaan Panday landed Saiyaara

The countdown is almost over for one of the most anticipated debuts of 2025. Ahaan Panday, Ananya Panday’s cousin and Chunky Panday’s nephew is all set to make his Bollywood debut with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara.

The romantic drama, also starring Big Girls Don’t Cry fame Aneet Padda, has already generated a buzz thanks to its soulful songs and intense trailer. But here’s a twist you didn’t see coming: Ahaan’s audition for the film didn’t actually impress the director. It was something far more unexpected that clinched the role for him.

When Auditions Fell Flat

In a candid chat on Cyrus Broacha’s podcast, filmmaker Mohit Suri spilled the beans on how Ahaan really got the part. “To be honest, I didn’t really care much about his audition,” Mohit confessed. For a film born from the idea of Aashiqui 3, the director needed someone with raw passion and a magnetic presence. At first, Ahaan’s screen test didn’t hit the mark.

The Night That Changed Everything

Not ready to write him off completely, Suri decided to take Ahaan out for dinner. The evening started with polite conversations at a formal restaurant, where the young star tried to play it safe and impress the director with his manners. But things took a turn when Mohit got Ahaan a few drinks.

“Then he takes me to this place in South Bombay filled with young energy. That’s where I saw the real Ahaan Panday,” Suri laughed. “By the end of the night, he was standing on the bar, and I thought, this is the guy I want for my film.”

More Than Just an Actor

It wasn’t his polished audition but Ahaan’s uninhibited, vibrant personality that made Mohit believe he could bring the character of a heartbroken rockstar alive on screen. “That was his real audition,” Suri added.

The Big Day Awaits

With Saiyaara hitting theatres tomorrow, July 18, fans and critics alike are waiting to see if Ahaan Panday lives up to the hype. From the looks of it, netizens are already praising his screen presence in teasers and trailers. Now, all eyes are on the big screen debut of Bollywood’s latest star kid.