Exclusive | Aneet Padda's Grandfather Has Alzheimer's, But Recognised Her In 'Saiyaara': That Was Very Special'

Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday have hit stratospheric fame with Saiyaara. In just weeks, the two 20-somethings have gone from promising newcomers to stars in ascent, the kind of phenomenon Bollywood has not witnessed since Hrithik Roshan’s arrival in 2000. With wonderstruck eyes, they are still taking in the glare of instant superstardom — but for Padda, one of the most moving memories of this journey comes not from the flashing cameras or box office chatter, but from a quiet family moment.

“My dadu has Alzheimer’s disease, which is why the film was even more emotional for me,” she shares. “He’s at a point now where he doesn’t remember most things, but I believed in this film because it says ‘dimaag bhool jaata hai par dil kabhi nahi bhoolta (the mind forgets but the heart does not)’, and that’s very true for my dadu. He doesn’t remember my name; he doesn’t remember most, but he calls me Heeraput, or Makkhan. The last few times that I had visited, he was okay with me sitting next to him; familiar but not knowing who I am or what’s going on. So, when my film was coming out, I [thought] he’s not going to know or remember [me]. And then, [because he couldn’t go to the theatre since he’s bedridden] my parents showed him all the videos and everything; and he smiled and said ‘Heeraput’ and ‘Makkhan di movie’; and that was very special.”

There are also lighter, fateful moments that Padda treasures. “I remember, in the beginning, when I was still auditioning for [Saiyaara], I hadn’t gotten the role yet and there were other people [being considered]; Ahaan had taken me to Mount Mary church [in Bandra, Mumbai] and we’d lit a candle and sat in the car and I asked him, ‘What did you wish for?’ He looked at me and asked, ‘What did you wish for?’ Then, a week later, I got the call [that I’d gotten the role], and he said, ‘Of course, I’d wished that you’d get the role!'"

Ahaan also added, "After the film released, Mohit sir, Aneet and I [went] back to Mount Mary. There are a lot of things that were so magical about the film; so many things that came together in ways I cannot explain."

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