Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda Win Gen Z Icon Award For ‘Saiyaara’

MUMBAI- Actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda were honored with the Gen Z Icon Award at the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025 ceremony for their performances in the romantic drama, ‘Saiyaara’.

The film, directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films CEO Akshay Widhani, is a love story about a singer, Krish, and a lyricist, Vaani. It was widely appreciated for its emotional depth, music, and the strong performances of the newcomers, which reportedly resonated deeply with the audience.

‘Saiyaara’ marked Ahaan Panday’s acting debut. Aneet Padda, who previously appeared in ‘Salaam Venky’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, played her first lead role in the film.

Expressing his gratitude after receiving the award, Ahaan Panday admitted he was left “completely and utterly speechless.” He told CNN-News18, “I think any artist has dreamed of coming on a stage and accepting their first award… I’ve practiced in front of my bathroom mirror many times, at least 300 to 400 times.” (ANI)