From DJ to Saiyaara Star: Ahaan Panday’s Wild Path to Bollywood Fame
Ahaan Panday is having a moment. His breakout role in Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara has fans buzzing, but he’s no flash in the pan. In Grazia India’s January issue, he opens up about the long grind that got him here – years of trying everything from music to game design before settling on acting.
Picture this: at 16, Ahaan dives into DJing, then starts producing tracks with his group Bass Trap. Next, he’s tinkering with video games. But storytelling pulls him to film sets as an assistant. He soaks it all in, watching quietly. His first audition hooks him on theater and performing for real crowds. That’s when he commits.
The industry hits back hard in his late teens. “The no’s started coming,” he says plainly. Directors liked him, but producers shied away from a fresh face. Auditions went silent. Some gigs panned out; most didn’t. He learned acting demands real guts – it’s art, not a sure paycheck.
Ahaan rolls with it. “Lots of no’s before a yes. That’s the game,” he notes. Even with Saiyaara‘s win, he knows every release is a fresh test. For his character Krish, he kept a diary full of notes on the guy’s feelings, scribbling “softness and masculinity” at the top. The script lacked vulnerability, so he added it, especially in the second half, showing how Krish softens for love.
Success still feels surreal. “I haven’t processed it,” he admits. It sinks in when fans share how the film touched them in person, not just online. He prefers keeping his head down: “Better not to overthink. On to the next.”
Looking ahead, Ahaan stays open. He credits mentors like Aditya Chopra and Shanoo Sharma for seeing lead potential in him. “I love acting and want to keep at it as long as I can. Ready for whatever comes.”
Grazia catches him in this sweet spot – grounded, curious, and all in on the craft.
