Two emerging talents from Bollywood romantic drama “Saiyaara” have earned IMDb Breakout Star STARmeter Awards, marking a significant milestone in their burgeoning careers.
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda received the honors based on their exceptional performance on IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities rankings, which measures engagement from the platform’s global user base. The recognition spotlights performers who demonstrate strong audience appeal and suggests promising career trajectories ahead.
In “Saiyaara,” helmed by Mohit Suri and backed by Yash Raj Films, Panday makes his film debut portraying musician Krish Kapoor, while Padda takes on the role of journalist and songwriter Vaani Batra. Both actors have navigated complex character arcs involving personal redemption and inner conflict.
“Saiyaara” released worldwide July 18 and has become the highest grossing Bollywood romance of all time with $62 million. It is also the second highest Indian grosser of 2025 after “Chhaava.”
The pair has dominated IMDb’s popularity metrics in remarkable fashion, each securing the top position on India’s celebrity rankings in back-to-back weeks. Their appeal has transcended local boundaries, with both performers landing in the global top 100 — Padda at 64 and Panday at 75.
Panday said: “The IMDb ‘Breakout Star’ STARmeter Award is the first award of my acting career, and the fact that it comes directly from audiences makes it all the more special. I spent my whole childhood scouring IMDb, seeing different polls, watching the rise and fall of various movies and shows. IMDb was a portal for me to lose myself into world cinema. To be mentioned on it, to be a part of it, to be honored by it, and to know that I’m up there somewhere, would have been something that that a 12-year-old on his box computer could never have fathomed, but always dreamed of.”
The actor also acknowledged key industry figures: “I’d like to thank Adi sir [Yash Raj Films chair and MD Aditya Chopra] for believing in me and Mohit sir for being the best mentor I could have asked for in this journey of ‘Saiyaara’. Sharing this award with my co-star Aneet makes this achievement even more special. She deserves not only this but the world. For now, I want to focus on my journey ahead. I want to focus on my next film and work twice as hard to deliver another performance that I can be proud of. I’m overwhelmed to have received this unanimous love from people, it still shocks me to this day, and honestly, I think the only way to go forward is keep my head low and keep working.”
Padda added: “I’m delighted that ‘Saiyaara’ and my performance in it has resonated with audiences worldwide, which has led to my winning the IMDb ‘Breakout Star’ STARmeter Award. Winning an accolade that is driven by audiences makes this truly a meaningful recognition. I’m thrilled to have entertained people with a performance that has touched them. I’d like to dedicate my first award to the entire cast and crew of the film, and to Adi sir and Mohit sir for their belief in someone like me, and to my co-star Ahaan. It’s been an absolute joy to share the screen and this journey with him. It is truly precious when people believe in your skills and give you that one chance you need. Playing Vaani has been one of the most joyful and intense experiences of my life. I can’t wait to be back on screen soon and do what I love most, bringing stories and incredible characters to life. I want to focus on my next film, take all this love and channelize it to do even better on screen next time.”
The STARmeter system analyzes page view data from IMDb’s 250 million-plus monthly visitors worldwide, creating rankings that industry observers have found to be reliable indicators of emerging talent. The awards program has previously spotlighted actors including Monika Panwar, Zahan Kapoor, Kani Kusruti, Sharvari, Nitanshi Goel, Adarsh Gourav, Ayo Edebiri, and Regé-Jean Page.