Thursday throwback: When 'Saiyaara' star Ahaan Panday denied being related to Chunkey Panday: 'I am nowhere connected to him'
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Today, Ahaan Panday has become the toast of the town, all thanks to his spectacular debut in the Mohit Suri directorial Saiyaara , but once, the actor was the laughingstock on the Internet as he pretended he was not related to Chunkey Panday . Yes, you read that right!Back in 2017, Ahaan went live on Instagram and stirred up controversy when he confidently declared that he had no relation to Chunkey Panday of Tezaab fame. He claimed his father's name was Aloke Sharad Panday and insisted that his rise in the industry was purely due to his own fanbase and social media popularity.According toreport, he said, 'It's funny that my surname is Panday, but I'm nowhere connected to him. My dad is Aloke Sharad Panday, and that's the only Panday connection I have. I have established myself in B-town through my popularity."Soon after, a post from Reddit's BollyBlindsGossip subreddit exposed the inconsistencies in Ahaan's claims. A Redditor disclosed that Ahaan's father, widely known as Chikki Panday, was in fact born Ashok Sharad Panday and is Chunkey Panday's brother. They also clarified that Chunkey's original name is Suyash Panday. Adding to the irony, many users pointed out how closely Ahaan resembles Chunkey, making the denial even more questionable.One user sarcastically commented on the resemblance and said, 'He really does look like Chunky. That's wild.' Another user joked about the consequences of denying one's family, adding, 'If I disowned my uncle like that, I'd be in serious trouble at home.'Despite the old backlash, Ahaan has now flipped the narrative. His debut film, Saiyaara, has become a sensational success. According to box office tracking site Sacnilk, the romantic drama has raked in a jaw-dropping Rs 153 crore in just six days, turning him into one of the most talked-about newcomers in recent times.
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