Ahaan Panday Opens Up on Privilege, Rejects ‘Star Kid’ Tag After Hit Debut

Ahaan Panday’s Bollywood debut has turned out to be the kind of launch most newcomers can only dream of. His first film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has become a massive box-office winner, earning around ₹580 crore and setting a new record as the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema. With both critics and audiences praising his performance, Ahaan is enjoying a strong start to his career. Yet, the discussion around his background and privilege hasn’t completely faded.

Ahaan Panday rejects the ‘star kid’ label

Speaking to GQ in a recent interview, Ahaan addressed the widely debated “star kid” tag. He said he doesn’t identify with it because his father, Aloke ‘Chikki’ Pandey, is not an actor.
“I can’t speak from experience because Chikki Pandey is not a star,” he said. “But if I have to speak on behalf of my friends, everyone faces their own struggles.”

Ahaan’s parents—Chikki Pandey, a businessman, and wellness expert Deanne Pandey—are not part of the film industry. However, his father’s close friendship with Shah Rukh Khan and the fact that his uncle, Chunky Panday, is a well-known actor meant he spent a lot of time around film personalities while growing up.

Ahaan acknowledges his privilege

Reflecting on his childhood, Ahaan said he felt like he was close to the film world but not actually inside it.
“I've always felt like the place I come from is behind a fence. I can reach out through it, but I can’t quite touch what’s on the other side,” he shared. “Being surrounded by the film industry taught me a lot, even if I wasn’t directly a part of it. That exposure is my privilege.”

What’s next for Ahaan Panday

With Saiyaara becoming one of the top-earning Indian films of 2025, Ahaan is now gearing up for his next project under Yash Raj Films. The upcoming movie is an action-romance directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and will feature Sharvari as the female lead. Actor Aaishvary Thackeray, who also debuted this year, has been cast as the antagonist. The film is currently untitled.