By: Entertainment DeskNew Delhi | September 11, 2025 08:57 PM IST 2 min readWhen Saiyaara was first announced, nobody expected it to become a cultural phenomenon. With two newcomers—Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—leading the film and minimal promotions before its release, trade experts questioned why audiences would even be interested. Yet, against all odds, the film opened to a massive Rs 21.5 crore on day one and eventually went on to earn a staggering Rs 570 crore worldwide.The film’s unexpected success even forced the makers of Son of Sardaar 2 and Param Sundari to delay their releases. Soon, clips of audiences crying in theatres began circulating online, and social media was flooded with praise for the film’s heartfelt storytelling and the crackling chemistry between its leads. But beyond the romance, there was one emotional moment that truly stole the limelight—a scene where Aneet Padda, trying to cheer up Ahaan Panday after his conflict with his father, imitates Virat Kohli’s iconic cricket shot.The sequence, tender and raw, became the emotional turning point of the story—and the beginning of the film’s romantic arc.ALSO READ | Aamir Khan pays for his family on outdoor shoots, questions stars over multiple vanity vans: ‘Producers are paying actors’ drivers, it’s a shame’Speaking about the experience of filming that scene, Ahaan Panday told The Hollywood Reporter: “For the character, I had to tap into things before. During the auditioning process, we’d always create the scenes; so when I was on set, I just let go of everything. I had to let go of the habit of directing myself. I completely surrendered and submitted to sir.”He added: “I didn’t plan anything—we’d just learn the lines on the way because we wanted it to be raw and real. We’d learn about 80 per cent of the lines, because we didn’t want it to be mechanical. Some days I felt I had to rehearse, but the greatest thing was Mohit sir trusted us so much. There were times we went completely off-key, and he worked his magic; other times he simply believed these two kids could pull it off.”Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Ahaan Panday