Overview

• Director Mohit Suri says Aneet Padda’s first meeting went "disastrously" due to a mismatched look, and that Ahaan Panday persuaded him to offer a second try, after which she won the part.
• Padda recalls landing on scam audition websites at 17 and sending 50–70 cold emails and self-tapes during the pandemic before learning that legitimate casting runs through agencies.
• She describes juggling college with early acting work, coping with anxiety and financial doubts, and credits mentors Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia and casting director Shanoo Sharma for key support.
• Padda says Alia Bhatt publicly praised Saiyaara and then phoned her to gush about the film for roughly ten minutes, a moment she calls especially meaningful as a longtime admirer.
• The Yash Raj Films romance, led by newcomers Padda and Panday, has grossed about ₹569.75 crore worldwide and, after a September Netflix debut, continues to draw interest to the actors’ backstories.