Who Is Ahaan Panday? Trolled for SRK dialogue, now gears up for Bollywood entry

Ahaan Panday, cousin of Bollywood actress Ananya Panday and nephew of actor Chunky Panday, is preparing to make his official entry into the film industry. With Yash Raj Films backing his debut and Mohit Suri at the helm as director, the upcoming romantic drama Saiyaara marks a significant milestone for the star kid. However, as anticipation around his debut grows, a resurfaced viral video has brought Ahaan under intense social media scrutiny.
Trolled for over-the-top acting attempts
Ahaan faced backlash in June 2023 when a clip of him recreating Shah Rukh Khan’s emotional “ek tarfa pyaar” monologue from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil went viral. While he likely intended it as a tribute, social media users didn’t hold back, labeling it “cringe” and “forced” and pointing to nepotism as the reason behind his prominence. As he now steps into the limelight officially with Saiyaara, only time will tell if Ahaan can silence the trolls and carve a place for himself in Bollywood.
A star kid’s path to the big screen
Born to Chikki Panday and fitness expert Deanne Panday, Ahaan hails from a prominent Bollywood family. His sister Alanna Panday is a well-known influencer based in the US, while his cousins Ananya and Rysa Panday are already familiar names in the industry. Ahaan pursued his education at Oberoi International School in Mumbai and later at the University of Mumbai. Passionate about cinema, he honed his skills behind the camera before facing it, having worked as an assistant director on projects like ‘Freaky Ali,’ ‘Rock On 2,’ and the critically acclaimed series ‘The Railway Men.’
Viral moments before the debut
Before grabbing headlines for his acting debut, Ahaan became a social media sensation during cousin Alanna Panday’s wedding. A video of him dancing to Shah Rukh Khan’s “I Am The Best” alongside Karan Mehta, in front of SRK and Gauri Khan, quickly went viral. Another clip of Ahaan and Ananya performing to “Saat Samundar Paar” also lit up the internet, showcasing his energetic stage presence and love for performance.