The young stars of Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, were recently honoured with the prestigious GenZ Icon Awards at the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025 ceremony held on November 28. For both actors, the recognition was particularly special as it marked their first-ever jury-based win and their debut major award-show acknowledgment.
Ahaan’s mother, Deanne Panday, shared her pride and joy on Instagram, posting pictures and videos of her son accepting the award on stage. In the caption, she wrote, “Gen-Z Icon of the Year 2025… Your first award on stage, your first speech on stage & to receive it for Saiyaara, yes you will hold onto this moment for years to come. Congratulations my son @ahaanpandayy we love you so much, you make us so proud. All love here always. @cnnnews18.” The post quickly drew congratulatory messages from celebrities, including Bipasha Basu, Bhavana Pandey, and Sanjay Kapoor.
Speaking about his win, Ahaan shared his excitement and emotions. “I think any artist has dreamed of coming on a stage and accepting their first award… I’ve practised in front of my bathroom mirror many times, at least 300 to 400 times. But I didn’t expect to be completely speechless on such a big stage,” he said. He added that the trophy would serve as a lasting reminder to “keep bettering myself, work harder, and be a better performer year after year.”
Ahaan also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people behind Saiyaara. “Mohit Suri, you have given me life… Shanoo Sharma, you have stood by me… Aditya Chopra, sir, you have given me this whole platform. I also want to thank the entire team of Saiyaara, the press, and my fans,” he said, highlighting the support and guidance that helped shape his journey.
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This recognition cements Ahaan and Aneet as rising talents to watch, with audiences and industry insiders applauding their performances in Saiyaara.
