From Audition Tapes to Stardom: The Inspiring Rise of Aneet Padda
After years of struggle, Aneet Padda shines in Saiyaara—but her journey from endless auditions to leading roles proves how tough it is for outsiders to make it big in Bollywood.
Aneet Padda may have turned into an overnight sensation with the success of Saiyaara, but her journey in the Hindi film industry has been anything but instant. Before her breakout role, she had already appeared in Salaam Venky (2022) and the web series Big Girls Don’t Cry (2024). She will soon be seen in a legal drama titled Nyaya alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh and Arjun Mathur, which she had signed even before Saiyaara made her a household name.
In a recent interview, Aneet opened up about her early years and the moment she realized she wanted to act. She revealed that despite starting to perform in school plays at the age of 10, she once convinced herself to stop dreaming. “For the longest time, I told myself, ‘You are so silly for even wanting to do anything about this.’ I stopped dreaming for a while,” she shared.
Talking about her early audition days, she recalled with humor, “Almost every production house in the Hindi film industry has my audition tape, a terrible biodata, and Snapchat filter pictures.” Her honesty offers a glimpse into the struggles of breaking into Bollywood as an outsider—where countless auditions often lead nowhere.
Interestingly, both Aneet and her Saiyaara co-star Ahaan Panday did not give a single interview during the film’s promotions—a rare move in today’s overexposed media landscape. The decision paid off, with the film’s organic buzz doing all the talking.
Industry insiders suggest that Aneet and Ahaan’s onscreen chemistry extended beyond the camera. The two reportedly grew close while shooting the film, with Ahaan looking out for her on set. Their friendship is said to have gradually evolved into a deep connection, though the pair have chosen to remain private about their relationship.
Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating that Aneet is in talks to join Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy universe with Shakti Shalini. Reports claimed that the filmmaker was impressed by her performance in Saiyaara and wanted to bring her on board. However, Maddock Films quickly issued a clarification, stating that any reports about casting decisions for Shakti Shalini or Maha Munjya are purely speculative, urging fans to wait for official announcements.
From countless rejections to sudden stardom, Aneet Padda’s story captures the grit and grace of an artist who refused to give up. Her journey is proof that true success in Bollywood rarely happens overnight—it’s earned, one audition tape at a time.
