Overview

• Padda says that at 17 she landed on fake audition sites and, during the pandemic, sent self-tapes and cold emails to roughly 50–70 production houses, leaving many with her early biodata and Snapchat-filtered photos.
• She later learned that legitimate opportunities are typically routed through casting agencies rather than direct cold pitches to production houses.
• Director Mohit Suri recalls her first audition going poorly due to an off-character outfit, before co-star Ahaan Panday pushed for a second chance that led to her winning the role.
• Padda describes juggling college with acting and feeling uncertain about making a living, before connecting with casting director Shanoo Sharma for the Yash Raj Films audition.
• She says Alia Bhatt praised Saiyaara publicly and then called to gush about the film for around ten minutes, a moment Padda describes as deeply affirming.