Actor Aneet Padda, who rose to fame with Mohit Suri’s blockbuster Saiyaara, has opened up about her difficult journey in the film industry and the challenges she faced while chasing her dream. Speaking to Cosmopolitan India, the young actor revealed that she had faced rejection, self-doubt, and even online scams before landing her breakthrough role.
Aneet shared that her fascination with acting began when she was just ten years old after performing in a school play. “At the time, I felt acting was an interesting way of being ‘weird’ and one that was applauded,” she said, adding that the appreciation she received for her uniqueness inspired her to pursue acting seriously.
Early setbacks and self-doubt
Despite her enthusiasm, Aneet said she lacked encouragement from those around her. “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 recalled.
At just 17, she began searching for auditions online — a move that led her to several scam websites. “Almost every production house in the Hindi film industry has my audition tape, a terrible biodata, and Snapchat filter pictures,” she joked, referring to her early and inexperienced attempts to reach out to casting teams.
She also revealed that she sent nearly 50–70 cold emails to production companies in search of opportunities before realising that most legitimate projects are handled by casting agencies.
Breakthrough with ‘Saiyaara’
Aneet’s persistence eventually paid off. She made her debut in Revathi’s Salaam Venky alongside Kajol and Vishal Jethwa, and later earned acclaim for her performance in the Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry.
However, it was Saiyaara — directed by Mohit Suri and co-starring Ahaan Panday — that transformed her into a household name. The romantic drama emerged as one of 2025’s highest-grossing films, collecting Rs 569.75 crore worldwide.
Reflecting on her journey, Aneet credited her struggles for shaping her resilience. “Every rejection, every scam, every sleepless night made me more determined. I’m grateful for the lessons that came with the struggle,” she said.
New projects and growing recognition
Following the success of Saiyaara, Aneet has reportedly signed a courtroom drama that is set to begin filming later this year. Industry insiders say her performance in Saiyaara has positioned her among Bollywood’s most promising young actors.
From audition scams to stardom, Aneet’s story has struck a chord with aspiring actors who relate to her perseverance and passion for cinema.