Ahaan Panday may have risen to overnight stardom with Saiyaara earlier this year, but the actor says one of the earliest sparks of confidence came from none other than Priyanka Chopra and in a completely unexpected setting. In a conversation with GQ, Ahaan shared a story from nearly a decade ago that he still carries with him, one that unfolded at one of Bollywood’s most high-profile events: Arpita Khan’s wedding.
Ahaan Panday reveals Priyanka Chopra gave him his first big confidence boost at Arpita Khan’s wedding — here’s what happened!
According to the 27-year-old actor, the moment happened when he found himself stepping in for a last-minute dance performance after someone dropped out. With less than two hours to learn the choreography, Ahaan decided to take a leap of faith. He confessed that he had walked up to the stage and gave everything he had. The crowd, he shared, was enormous with around 800 guests, including the biggest names in the industry. So for him as a teenager, he described it as a key moment where he was trying to make an impression, and the pressure was immense.
But after the performance, something unexpected happened. Out of the hundreds watching, only two people clapped for him. “One was stylist Ashley Rebello,” Ahaan said, “and the other was Priyanka Chopra who told me, ‘You have the X factor. Treat your dreams like skydiving — once you jump, there’s no looking back.’”
Ahaan shared that the brief exchange left a lasting impact, even though he believes Priyanka may not remember him from that moment. “She probably doesn’t even know I’m the same guy who ended up doing Saiyaara, but that moment stayed with me,” he said. For a young aspiring actor still figuring out his path, those words acted as early validation — a reminder to keep going.
Fast-forward to 2025, Ahaan Panday is no longer the nervous teenager performing at a wedding. Earlier this year, Saiyaara turned him into a breakout star almost overnight, earning him widespread recognition and positioning him among Bollywood’s most promising newcomers. His screen presence was noted for its ease and intensity, and audiences instantly connected with the film’s emotional tone.
Riding high on the success, Ahaan is now gearing up for his next big project with Yash Raj Films. The upcoming film is expected to be an action–romance drama featuring Sharvari and Aaishvary Thackeray, and has already generated early buzz within the industry. For Ahaan, who once received just two claps in a room full of celebrities, the journey seems to have come full circle — with many more milestones ahead.
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