Aneet Padda’s viral 'Sharam' video: Saiyaara director Mohit Suri reveals the reality behind the clip

Aneet Padda, who made her debut in Saiyaara alongside Ahaan Panday, recently found herself at the center of social media chatter after a candid moment with the paparazzi. In a video that quickly spread online, the young actress was seen at Mumbai airport politely asking photographers not to click her pictures, saying, “Mujhe sharam aa rahi hai”—which translates to “I am feeling shy.” Her choice to keep her mask on led to mixed reactions, with some praising her humility and others questioning her conduct.

The moment, however, was not staged or crafted for attention. In fact, Saiyaara director Mohit Suri addressed the incident in a conversation with Zoom TV, offering full support to his actor. He revealed that Aneet had sought his advice after the video blew up, and he reassured her that expressing herself honestly was perfectly acceptable.

Mohit Suri Backs Aneet’s Vulnerability

Mohit Suri explained that from the outset, he had encouraged Aneet to stay true to herself. When she asked if she could admit she was feeling shy, the filmmaker encouraged her to say exactly that. He emphasized that today’s generation often feels pressured to have rehearsed answers and perfect public images, but there's nothing wrong with showing vulnerability. In his view, Aneet’s honesty at the airport was far more real than putting on a performance for the cameras.


Suri also stated that there was no intent to create viral moments. He clarified that even the widely circulated videos from cinema halls—where fans were seen emotionally reacting to Saiyaara—were genuine and not orchestrated for publicity.

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Intentional Media Silence Pre-Release

The viral video surfaced at a time when both Aneet and Ahaan were being kept away from media promotions. This was a conscious decision by Suri and the team at Yash Raj Films (YRF), who wanted the newcomers to be judged for their acting rather than their public personas. The director shared that they launched the duo with minimal media presence—just a trailer and a song—allowing their performances to do the talking. He reiterated that actors should be appreciated for their craft, not their fashion sense or airport looks.

Criticism and Trolls

Despite Suri’s defense, Aneet’s video did attract criticism, most notably from actor Kamaal R. Khan. In a viral clip, he accused the actress of staging the interaction and claimed she paid the paparazzi to appear at the airport. The trolling gained further attention when Varun Dhawan liked the post, though he did not comment publicly.

What’s Next for the Debutants

As Saiyaara continues to receive praise for its emotional depth and the chemistry between its lead pair, Mohit Suri hinted at a new direction for both actors. He mentioned wanting to explore lighter roles for Ahaan and Aneet in the future, urging them to laugh more on screen and step away from mature, emotionally intense characters. He noted that he had only just introduced them to the film world and believed they had much more to offer.

Meanwhile, Aneet Padda is set to appear in Nitya Mehra’s upcoming courtroom drama Nyaya, produced by Applause Entertainment. The show, which also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Arjun Mathur, will stream on a major OTT platform.