Aneet Padda stepping into the role of lead actor in Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara is a key milestone for her. This romantic drama, which follows a young songwriter struggling with early-onset Alzheimer’s, is a critical and commercial success. Padda’s acting, in particular, is a highlight and her performance is a pivot of the film. There is a poignant complexity to her character that is profoundly moving, especially since she is personally acquainted with the issues the story grapples with.
In her personal life, Padda has Alzheimer’s experience as her grandfather has been suffering from the disease for several years. She was able to depict the character on-screen with deep empathy as her real-life struggle greatly helped her performance. The depth of emotion she displayed was not only visible on the screen but was also deeply felt among her loved ones. Widely known, her family felt solace, especially the therapeutic feeling of her grandfather to whom, in an emotional twist, the film was shown on television.
While the performance has earned praise, the film’s success has also been historic. Saiyaara grossed ₹563 crore at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Indian love story led by debutants. It is also the biggest hit from Yash Raj Films since Pathaan, signaling a strong return to emotionally driven cinema with fresh faces at the forefront.
Before Saiyaara, Aneet Padda had a minor appearance in Salaam Venky and rose to wider attention with the web series Big Girls Don’t Cry. However, it is her role in Saiyaara that has firmly established her as a rising star. With her nuanced performance and the film’s overwhelming success, Padda has proven that her presence in the industry is not just promising — it’s transformative.
