“I Was Delusional”: Ahaan Panday Opens Up About His Delayed Debut

In a candid and revealing interview, Ahaan Panday, the breakout star of the blockbuster film Saiyaara, has opened up about the emotional and professional struggles he faced during his long wait for a debut in the film industry. The actor, who is the nephew of Chunky Panday and cousin of Ananya Panday, confessed to feeling “wronged” by people and described his mindset in the initial years as “entirely delusional.”

Ahaan’s journey to the big screen was anything but smooth. Despite being a known face in Bollywood circles and a part of a prominent film family, his acting debut was a long time in the making. He was reportedly set to star in a big-budget, larger-than-life film produced by Yash Raj Films, but the project was shelved, leaving him devastated. This period of uncertainty and setbacks, he said, was a challenging phase that tested his resolve.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Ahaan shared that while he has no “resentment,” he did feel “wronged” by some people. He explained that as an actor, he took inspiration from these difficult experiences to hone his craft, using small moments of personal hurt to inform his characters. He candidly admitted that for the first four to five years of his wait, he was “entirely delusional” and that people around him could sense it.

The actor also revealed a deeply personal and shattering blow that impacted his confidence: the passing of his grandmother. He described her as his “backbone” and the only person who would call him a “hero” every day. Her loss, he said, left him feeling shattered, and the only way he found to cope was to keep working. This difficult time, he believes, ultimately pushed him to become the artist he is today.

Despite the hurdles, Ahaan maintained his passion for filmmaking. During his waiting period, he worked as an assistant director on projects like The Railway Men, an experience he called a “dream” that kept him grounded and happy. He emphasized that he was never “sour or bitter” about the delays, as he was simply grateful for the opportunity to be on a film set and learn from other actors.

His perseverance and blind optimism eventually paid off when he was offered Saiyaara by Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films. The romantic drama, also starring newcomer Aneet Padda, went on to become a major commercial and critical success, breaking box office records and establishing Ahaan as a promising new face. Reflecting on his journey, Ahaan said that his grandmother would have been very happy to see him achieve his dream, as it was her wish for him to become an actor.