Ahaan Panday is NOT Saiyaara star's real name? Actor REVEALS his Hindu name, has a Yash Raj connection

Ahaan Panday just made his Bollywood debut in Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, and the actor recently shocked fans even more by disclosing his and sister Alanna Panday's true names. The young actor said to The Hollywood Reporter India that although the world knows him as Ahaan, his Hindu name is Yash. Meanwhile, his sister Alanna goes by name Chandni, a reference to the renowned Yash Raj Films film. Their parents picked both names to reflect their respective faiths - Hindu and Christian - while also reflecting the family's love of movies.

Ahaan Panday's debut fulfills grandma's wish

Ahaan was raised in one of Bollywood's most well-known households as the son of wellness specialist Deanne Panday and businessman Aloke Chikki Panday. However, a lot of his early performing dreams were influenced by his late grandma. In addition to wanting to watch him on screen, she also loved YRF's movies. Because of this, his banner launch was more than simply a debut; it was the realization of a promise he had made to her.

What did Ahaan tell about his grandma's dreams?

Ahaan said, "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 filmy Yash Raj [Films] lovers."

Ahaan chose YRF to honour...

Ahaan held off on accepting offers from other production companies until Aditya Chopra gave him the assurance that Yash Raj would be launching. The actor claimed that the decision came naturally to him since he had always seen himself as one of the YRF heroes he had grown up admiring.

Acting quickly became his calling, especially since it was connected to his grandmother's desire, even if his original goal was to become a writer.