Did You Know Ahaan Panday’s Hindu Name Is Yash and Alanna’s Is Chandni? Here’s Why!

While it is obvious that his father, Chikki Panday, and uncle, Chunky Panday, go by their nicknames, one would assume that Ahaan Panday is the actor’s real name. However, in a recent interview, the Saiyaara star revealed a shocker. Both he and his sister, Alanna Panday, have other ‘Hindu names,’ which have strong connections with Yash Raj Films, the studio that eventually launched him.

Ahaan Panday’s Bollywood Connection

Ahaan is the son of Aloke ‘Chikki’ Panday, a businessman, and Deanne Panday, a fitness expert and author. Since Ahaan’s father is a Hindu and his mother a Christian, the siblings have two names. Talking with The Hollywood Reporter India about why he chose to make his Bollywood debut with Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara, even as he had other offers, Ahaan said, “I think it goes back to my grandmother; that was the person close to me whom I lost. Yash Raj Films was a dream for me; it was the cinema I grew up with, the cinema my grandmother dreamed I would be a part of. She used to call me ‘Raj’ all the time. My sister’s Hindu name is Chandni, based on the film Chandni, and my Hindu name is Yash; we’re big filmy Yash Raj [Films] lovers.”