Actor Ahaan Panday, who recently made his debut with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara under Yash Raj Films, has revealed an interesting detail about his and sister Alanna Panday’s real names — both inspired by classic Bollywood films.

Family and Filmy Names

Ahaan, son of businessman Aloke “Chikki” Panday and fitness author Deanne Panday, shared that since his father is Hindu and his mother Christian, he and his sister were given two names each.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ahaan said his late grandmother was a big influence on his love for cinema and Yash Raj Films in particular. “She used to call me ‘Raj’ all the time. My sister’s Hindu name is Chandni, based on the film Chandni, and my Hindu name is Yash. We’re big Yash Raj lovers,” he revealed.

Why YRF Was His First Choice

Ahaan said he had several offers before his debut but chose to wait for YRF because of his emotional connection. “When Adi sir (Aditya Chopra) asked me, it was instinctive. I believed it was my destiny. It was my grandmother’s dream for me to be an actor. I actually wanted to be a writer, but somewhere, I did this for her,” he said.

The young actor, nephew of Chunky Panday and cousin of Ananya Panday, had been considered a potential Bollywood star long before turning 20. His debut with Saiyaara marked the beginning of his professional journey.

About Saiyaara

Directed by Mohit Suri, the film tells the story of a rebellious musician (played by Ahaan) who falls in love with a songwriter battling Alzheimer’s (Aneet Padda). The film received glowing reviews and became the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema, earning ₹563 crore worldwide.

Source: HT | Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner