Ahaan Panday made waves with his debut film Saiyaara earlier this year. The actor played the role of Krish in the romantic musical directed by Mohit Suri. The film, which also starred Aneet Padda, became a box-office rage, with Ahaan and Aneet finding a fan base in no time. Soon after, Ahaan was tagged the heartthrob of 2025. While he continues to soak in the adulation, his mother Deanne Panday has revealed that the family was unprepared for some shocking moments that followed his sudden stardom.
Deanne Panday on Ahaan`s fan interactions
In a conversation with The Nod, Deanne Panday revealed that the family was stunned when Ahaan received a letter written in blood. “Within days of the film releasing, our lives changed completely. There were photographers outside our house daily. We’re a very low-key family — my husband doesn’t even attend industry events. Suddenly, privacy disappeared.”
Deanne shared that thousands of letters started arriving at their home address after the release of Saiyaara. While some fans sent sketches of Ahaan as Krish, others wrote heartfelt handwritten notes. “Fans range from children to people in their eighties,” she said. “Many letters talk about how the film or Ahaan made them feel seen or hopeful. It’s incredibly moving.”
“When women admire him, I feel emotional and proud. It’s a strange but beautiful feeling to see your child loved so deeply by strangers,” Deanne said, sharing how she feels when audiences resonate with her son’s work.
While most of the admiration has brought joy to Ahaan and his family, some incidents crossed a line and left them shaken. “We once received a letter written in blood. It was very disturbing,” she revealed.
The family chose to respond by urging the fan to never repeat such an act. “We told them this isn’t healthy or safe. Ahaan would never want anyone to hurt themselves for him,” she added, stressing the importance of boundaries, even in devotion.
Ahaan turns 28
On December 23, Ahaan turned a year older, marking his first birthday after his newfound fame. On Tuesday evening, the Saiyaara star shared a picture of himself surrounded by gifts, balloons, and flowers sent by admirers. Posting the photo, Ahaan wrote, “Thank you for all the wishes (and thank you to all the people who made this year what it was). All love here always.”
