Ahaan Panday’s Debut in YRF’s Saiyaara Sparks Nepotism Debate Online

Ahaan Panday, cousin of Bollywood actress Ananya Panday, is all set to make his Bollywood debut in the romantic drama Saiyaara, produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF).

Directed by Mohit Suri, known for films like Aashiqui 2, Woh Lamhe, and Ek Villain, Saiyaara also stars Salaam Venky actor Aneet Padda. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 18, 2025.

YRF announced the project on Tuesday, stating: “Yash Raj Films’ romantic film Saiyaara, which introduces Ahaan Panday in the Hindi film industry & also stars Aneet Padda as the female lead, is set to release on July 18, 2025, in theatres worldwide.”

The film marks Mohit Suri’s first collaboration with YRF and is produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, with Aditya Chopra presenting it.

Social Media Reacts Strongly to “Another Star Kid Launch”

The film’s announcement has reignited online criticism surrounding nepotism in Bollywood. Comments flooded various platforms, with many questioning why another industry insider is being launched.

“Another nepo kid?” asked one user, while another sarcastically remarked, “YRF put a higher bid in recently conducted Nepo Auction beating Dharma in its own game.”

The backlash didn’t stop there. “Another Starkid launched ffs. Bullywood never learnt,” read a Reddit comment. Others chimed in with “Yet another nepo launch?” and “Presented By Aditya Chopra, Flopped By Audiences worldwide.”

Audience Questions Lack of Outsider Representation

Users also criticized the lack of opportunities for outsiders in Bollywood. “Do you guys even make movies for the audience? Or do you make movies just to launch another star kid??” wrote a user on Instagram.

Another added, “Kabhi outsiders ko bhi launch kar diya karo (sometimes, launch some outsiders too).”

Several expressed disappointment at the industry’s current state. “Bollywood keeps digging the bar lower and lower,” one user wrote, while another commented, “Now every Tom, Dick, and Harry guy will play lead. No wonder my female classmates don’t watch Bollywood.”

Spotlight on Ahaan’s Background and Career Path

Ahaan Panday is the son of Chikki Panday and wellness expert Deanne Panday. His sister, Alanna Panday, is a digital influencer recently seen in Amazon Prime Video’s The Tribe. Ahaan is also the nephew of actor Chunky Panday and cousin to Ananya and Rysa Panday.

Before stepping in front of the camera, Ahaan worked as an assistant director on films like Rock On 2 and Freaky Ali, as well as the series The Railway Men.

His early experiences behind the scenes were part of his grooming under YRF, which is known for mentoring debutants from film families.

Viral Moments and Trolling

Ahaan gained some public attention prior to his debut, including a dance performance at cousin Alanna Panday’s wedding to the song “I Am The Best” in front of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan. The performance went viral on social media.

However, not all of his moments in the spotlight were well received. In June 2023, a video of Ahaan recreating Shah Rukh Khan’s monologue from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil surfaced online and was met with harsh criticism.

Users slammed it as “cringe” and another instance of nepotism, calling the performance overly dramatic and forced.

Ananya Panday Reacts to the Announcement

Actress Ananya Panday took to Instagram to support her cousin, sharing the announcement and writing, “Welcome to the movies my brother,” accompanied by red heart and emotional emojis.

The Larger Debate Continues

This isn’t the first time YRF has been caught in the nepotism crossfire. Aditya Chopra had previously launched Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan, in the Netflix film Maharaj.

That film also stirred controversy, though the Gujarat High Court later cleared it for release.

With Saiyaara, YRF has once again found itself in the center of a heated industry debate. As the film’s release date approaches, the public’s reaction remains mixed, with anticipation on one hand and ongoing skepticism on the other.