Untouchable Talent! But She Almost Gave Up Everything
You know her face. You know the name: Aneet Padda, the breakout star who just shattered box office records with the blockbuster Saiyaara. She projects effortless, undeniable talent—the kind you think only happens to industry insiders.
But Aneet Padda’s reality? It was a brutal, anonymous grind that led her to the edge of quitting.
In an exclusive interview, the actress got savagely honest about the dark side of the Bollywood hustle—scam websites, soul-crushing self-doubt, and the audacity of sending cringe-worthy biodata to big-shot producers.
This is the unfiltered, human story of her fight, and the surreal, full-circle phone call from her idol, Alia Bhatt, that changed her life forever.
1. The Cringe Files: Scam Auditions and 'Snapchat Filter Pics'
Forget the glamorous debut. Aneet Padda started her career like millions of other aspirants: desperately Googling “auditions near me” at age 17. With zero connections, she was a lamb walking into a minefield.
She admitted to navigating a swamp of "shady websites that were basically scams," sending her hopes and personal details into the void. But the most relatable, yet horrifying, confession involves her early self-marketing during the pandemic.
Driven by panic and pure desperation, Aneet took matters into her own hands, cold-emailing production houses across Bollywood with her portfolio. What was in it? Brace yourselves.
"Almost every production house in the Hindi film industry has my audition tape, a terrible biodata, and Snapchat filter pictures," she revealed.
Think about that for a second. The biggest producers in Mumbai likely still have a copy of the future Saiyaara star’s resume, complete with a dog-ear or butterfly filter! It's an incredible testament to her hunger—and the chaotic, unguided mess that is the Bollywood entry point. She stopped dreaming for a while, telling herself she was "silly" for even trying.
She quickly learned the hard lesson: credible work rarely comes from a direct cold email; it comes from professional casting agencies. But those early, embarrassing, almost fraudulent attempts were the furnace that forged her resilience.
2. The Payoff: Alia Bhatt Gushes for Ten Minutes!
The success of Saiyaara was Aneet’s cinematic reward, but the validation that truly broke her came from her childhood hero.
Aneet has always been vocal about her admiration for Alia Bhatt. She wasn't just a fan; she used to practice Alia’s famous monologues in the mirror as a teen, dreaming of mastering the craft.
Then came the surreal call.
After watching her performance, Alia Bhatt didn't send a congratulatory text or a public tweet. She picked up the phone and personally called Aneet Padda.
"She gushed about the film for almost ten minutes," Padda shared.
Imagine that moment: the young girl practicing lines alone suddenly getting praise from the very person she was mimicking. It’s the ultimate, spine-tingling full-circle moment that proves the universe rewards tenacity.
Aneet Padda’s journey is a powerful reminder: if you're out there struggling, sending emails into the void, and battling self-doubt, you’re in good company. Even the most "untouchable" stars started with the most awkward, desperate hustle.
What's the most desperate thing you’ve ever done to chase a big dream? Share your stories below!
(This story is based on Aneet Padda’s candid interview with Cosmopolitan India.)