'Saiyaara' actress Aneet Padda admits to feeling overwhelmed as she wasn't sure if she could balance her college with acting: 'I was looking..'

Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda became breakout stars with the release of Saiyaara. Directed by Mohit Suri, the romantic drama marked Ahaan’s debut in films, while Aneet had earlier appeared in Salaam Venky (2022) and 'Big Girls Don’t Cry'. In a recent interview, Aneet opened up about the emotional turbulence she experienced despite the praise that came her way after Big Girls Don’t Cry. Balancing college and acting, she said she often struggled with anxiety, self-doubt, and the fear of financial instability in the entertainment industry.

Aneet shared that she felt “unsettled” while managing studies and shoots, and that being on set sometimes felt “culturally different” since she was surrounded by “big people.” Despite maintaining composure outwardly, she was overwhelmed by contract discussions and travel schedules. “I didn’t know if I would make it. Of course, I was doing things, but I didn’t know if I’d have enough safety that I’d be able to make money only off of this. So I was still looking for other options, and what schools to apply to after college," she revealed in an interview with Cosmopolitan India.



The actor credited Big Girls Don’t Cry creator Nitya Mehra and director Karan Kapadia as her “Bombay parents,” sharing that their encouragement came at a time when she needed reassurance about her talent and future. Around that same period, when she was 19, Aneet received a call from casting director Shanoo Sharma, who invited her to audition for Yash Raj Films. Although Aneet had to decline due to college commitments and a packed travel schedule, she described the moment as special: “Even getting that call from her (Sharma) was huge.”

After completing her studies, Aneet decided to reconnect with Sharma. She recalled feeling “shaking in the car” before their meeting, but said the casting director immediately put her at ease. That meeting ultimately led to her audition for Saiyaara—and her breakthrough role.

Released in theatres on July 18, 2025, Saiyaara tells the story of Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a passionate musician, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a reserved poet. As they collaborate to create music, they heal from emotional wounds and fall in love, only to face a heartbreaking twist when Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. 'Saiyaara' is out on OTT.