New Delhi: Actor Ahaan Panday, known as a prominent star kid and cousin of Ananya Panday, made his Bollywood debut this year in the Yash Raj Films production Saiyaara, alongside Aneet Padda.
Despite the familial tradition of nicknames—his father, Chikki Panday, and uncle, Chunky Panday—many assumed “Ahaan” was his birth name. However, he recently disclosed his and his sister Alanna Panday’s “real” names and the story behind them.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ahaan revealed that he and Alanna have Hindu names that reflect their connection to Yash Raj Films. Ahaan, born on December 23, 1997, and Alanna, on August 16, 1995, are the children of Aloke Sharad Panday, known as Chikki, and Deanne Panday. Chikki is a businessman, while Deanne is a fitness expert.
The siblings possess two names due to their mixed heritage; their mother is Christian, and their father is Hindu. When asked why he chose Yash Raj Films for his debut despite other offers, Ahaan explained, “I think it goes back to my grandmother; that was the person close to me whom I lost. Yash Raj Films was a dream for me, it was the cinema I grew up with, the cinema my grandmother dreamed I would be a part of. 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 fans of Yash Raj [Films].”
Alanna Panday’s Career
Ahaan Panday’s sister, Alanna Panday, is also an actress and YouTuber. She made her acting debut in Prime Video’s series The Tribe, which aired in 2021, created by Aneesha Baig. The show explores the lives of young Indian content creators, including Alanna.
Overview of Saiyaara
Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara features Ahaan and Aneet in lead roles, along with Varun Badola, Geeta Agarwal, Anngad Raaj, and Alam Khan. The romantic drama has received acclaim for its emotional storytelling and strong performances, achieving a worldwide box office collection of Rs 564.84 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
