Already? 'Saiyaara' stars Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda bag their first award in record time

Two rising names in Bollywood have picked up major career milestones with IMDb Breakout Star STARmeter Awards. Saiyaara leads Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda have taken the honors based on their surging popularity among global audiences.

The recognition comes on the heels of Saiyaara’s record-breaking run, cementing both actors as talents to watch while also marking their first major award wins.

IMDb Recognition & Global Rankings

The IMDb Breakout Star STARmeter Awards are decided by audience engagement through the platform’s Popular Indian Celebrities rankings, which track the viewing habits of millions worldwide. Panday and Padda topped India’s celebrity list for consecutive weeks, an uncommon feat for newcomers.

Their appeal has crossed borders, with Padda landing at number 64 and Panday at number 75 on the global top 100 list. The rankings are compiled from IMDb’s 250 million monthly visitors, making them a significant industry indicator of star power in the making.

Saiyaara’s Record-Breaking Run

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara released on 18 July and has become the highest grossing Bollywood romance in history, with collections touching 62 million dollars worldwide. It now sits as the second highest earning Indian film of 2025, behind Chhaava.

In the film, Panday plays musician Krish Kapoor in his debut screen role, while Padda portrays journalist and songwriter Vaani Batra. The story follows both characters through personal challenges, professional ambition and emotional crossroads.

Ahaan Panday on his first award

Panday described the STARmeter Award as the first recognition of his acting career and expressed how meaningful it felt that it came directly from audiences. He recalled growing up using IMDb to explore films and actors, calling it a place where he learned about world cinema.

He credited Yash Raj Films head Aditya Chopra for placing faith in him and Mohit Suri for guiding him through his debut. Sharing the win with Padda, he said, was a highlight of the journey. Panday added that his focus now is on preparing for his next project and working harder to deliver performances that make him proud.

Aneet Padda on Audience-Driven Recognition

Padda shared her happiness at the film’s connection with audiences, noting that an award driven entirely by public engagement carried unique value. She dedicated her first win to the cast and crew of Saiyaara, as well as to Chopra and Suri for believing in her potential.

The actor spoke about the joy and intensity of playing Vaani, calling it one of the most fulfilling experiences of her career so far. She said she is eager to return to screen soon and channel the love from audiences into even stronger work in the future.

IMDb STARmeter Awards and Industry Impact

The STARmeter system measures traffic to individual celebrity pages, producing weekly rankings that have become a known metric for tracking rising talent. Past recipients of the Breakout Star award include Monika Panwar, Zahan Kapoor, Kani Kusruti, Sharvari, Nitanshi Goel, Adarsh Gourav, Ayo Edebiri and Regé-Jean Page.

The recognition is often seen as a sign of strong momentum within the entertainment industry and can lead to increased casting interest from producers and directors looking to bank on rising profiles.

What Comes Next for the Saiyaara Duo

With Saiyaara setting commercial records and earning both its leads major recognition, expectations are high for their next moves. Panday has hinted at focusing on his next film without revealing details, while Padda has expressed her readiness to explore new characters and stories.

The momentum from the film’s success and their IMDb rankings positions both actors for significant opportunities in the coming years. As the industry watches closely, the Saiyaara leads seem poised to turn their breakout into sustained careers on the big screen.

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