Ameesha Patel on comparison of Ahaan Panday with Hrithik & Ranbir: "Baap toh baap hai, not many can...."

The buzz around Saiyaara is only growing louder, and debutant Ahaan Panday is right at the center of it. Directed by Mohit Suri and backed by YRF, the romantic musical drama has already collected a massive Rs. 132.25 crore within five days of release. With soulful music, emotional storytelling, and fresh chemistry between leads Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara is quickly becoming 2025’s biggest surprise hit.

In the middle of all the fanfare, a new debate has taken shape online—one comparing Ahaan Panday’s debut to that of Bollywood heavyweights Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor. Social media has been flooded with comments linking Ahaan’s screen presence and talent to the early days of Ranbir in Saawariya and Hrithik in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.

Naturally, Ameesha Patel, who made her own grand debut alongside Hrithik in 2000 was asked about this comparison during a recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on X (formerly Twitter). Responding to a fan query, Ameesha kept it honest and grounded. “I haven’t seen the film but I wish them luck,” she shared. “Ahaan, as per reports, is a very promising actor. But baap toh baap hai, and beta toh beta hi hoga.”

Ameesha didn’t stop there. Praising Hrithik, she added, “Dugu is a WAR ahead of most stars,” making a reference to Hrithik's successful action film War. On Ranbir, she said, “Ranbir is an ANIMAL of a star... it will take newcomers time to reach that level, and not many can become a Ranbir.” However, she ended on a positive note, expressing hope that Ahaan will grow in his own space without the weight of comparisons.

Interestingly, just a day earlier, Ameesha had congratulated Ahaan and Aneet for their box office success, saying, “May you continue to create GADAR at the box office.” She warmly welcomed the newcomers into the film industry, showing her support while still being realistic.

With Saiyaara continuing to ride high and big names from the industry like Alia Bhatt and Aamir Khan also praising the film, it’s clear that the new pair has struck a chord. But as Ameesha pointed out, every journey is different, and Ahaan seems to be carving his own.