The question of whether Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s debut in Saiyaara marks a turning point in Bollywood’s ongoing “nepo kid” debate sparked a surprising response from Karan Johar.
The buzz around Ahaan Panday—Ananya Panday's cousin--and Aneet Padda, his team mate from crop has soared to unimaginable heights after Saiyaara won hearts and numbers at the box office. But with all the praises came the age-old questions: Do fresh talents really have a chance in a nepotism-ridden Bollywood? Some powerful statements followed Karan Johar to give these boys a shout-out in their defense.
Did Ahaan Panday Resue Bollywood From Boycott Nepo Kids
At its very inception, the film laid to rest the din of star-child gossip; till date, it is a hit in every sense of the word, gaining ₹83 crore in its opening. Ahaan and Aneet's sincere acting performances earned wide praise from critics and audiences alike. Largely termed as "manufactured" nepo-babies, social platforms took upon themselves to showcase self-made stars as the duo being comparably "Nepo Baby The Restart" who saved Bollywood from being labeled as nepotistic.
Karan Johar dragged in to shower praises
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In an oft-viral Instagram note, Karan Johar referred to Saiyaara as 'the best film of Mohit Suri's career' and labelled Ahaan "spectacular" and Aneet "beyond magical." He stressed their depth, emotion, and authenticity, giving priority to storytelling above inherited credibility. The most compelling aspect of the late movie is that the whole concept of Saiyaara stands in testament that talent conquers blood.
The Troll Called Him Out-He Snapped Back
Karan's unsolicited praise for the movie was met with backlashes from trolls who called him "nepo kid's nanny." Rarely did he keep his cool. He retaliated with restraint and wit;
"Chup kar... aur khud kuch kaam kar" (Shut it…and do some work yourself)
The mighty comeback put emphasis once again on the fact that no work is unworthy of recognition whatsoever, irrespective of its source.
That Sets the Ball Rolling for Nepotism in Bollywood
The phenomenon of Saiyaara and Johar's stance seem to suggest that the Indian audience really longs for raw talent and not for lineage. Quite contrary to adding fuel to the fire of the controversy, Saiyaara is about bringing forth true performances. Johar's response gives an important reminder that dismissing someone simply on the grounds of family background is an ambush on craft and merit in itself.
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda may not have "rescued" Bollywood single-handedly but they have definitely shaken this narrative. Their success coupled with industry support, especially from Karan Johar, opens a greater window for newcomers focusing on their art and not on their lineage. As Johar rightfully said: stop talking and start making some work worth talking about.
