‘Saiyaara’ has made Aneet Padda a star overnight but this is not her first film. The 22-year-old, who stars opposite Ahaan Panday in Mohit Suri’s romantic drama, has already appeared in a feature film, an acclaimed web series, and several high-visibility ad campaigns, making ‘Saiyaara’ less of a debut and more of a breakout.
From Amritsar to Mumbai: Aneet’s journey to the big screen
She is born in Amritsar, and comes from a middle-class background as she graduated from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University. While managing academics, she pursued modeling and acting auditions. Her first on-screen appearance came in ‘Revathi’s Salaam Venky’ which was released in 2022, where she played a small role opposite Kajol.
Web series spotlight: Big Girls Don’t Cry
In the coming-of-age series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ which resonated with Gen Z viewers, Aneet played Roohi Ahuja in 2024. Along with Pooja Bhatt, Raima Sen, and Zoya Hussain, she received a lot of praise for this performance, which also helped her build a unique online persona.
Ad campaigns and early visibility
Before the movie ‘Saiyaara,’ Aneet featured in campaigns for various companies like Paytm, Nescafe, and Cadbury, often going unnoticed despite her expressive screen presence. This time she built her on-camera confidence and familiarized her with mainstream audiences across TV and digital platforms.
Mohit Suri was impressed by her audition
Director Mohit Suri shared that Aneet was cast in ‘Saiyaara’ following a standout first audition. He explained that he was looking for someone grounded, describing her as the kind of girl who would be “back home at 8:30 pm”—suggesting a relatable, everyday charm that matched his vision for the role.
Overnight fame and rising fan base
Prior to the film’s release, Aneet had about 350k followers on her social media handle. After the post-‘Saiyaara’ moment her social media following spiked past 1.1 million, showing an instant rise in public recognition. In spite of the limited pre-release buzz, the film delivered the fourth biggest box office opening of 2025, crossing Rs. 100 crores within just four days.
