The blockbuster success of Saiyyara hasn’t just launched Ahaan Panday into the spotlight — it has triggered a silent, almost uncomfortable shift in the power dynamics of Bollywood. While the film itself continues to break records and capture the imagination of Gen Z audiences, what’s being talked about just as much is the reaction — or lack thereof — from certain members of the old guard. Most notably, all eyes seem to be drifting toward Ranveer Singh, and not for the right reasons.
Ahaan Panday, with his debut performance, has done what most newcomers only dream of: struck a chord with both audiences and the industry elite. From Hrithik Roshan to Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal, praise has poured in from across the board. But amidst all the celebration, the silence from Ranveer Singh has grown deafening.
Industry insiders have begun whispering about a 40-year-old actor who hasn’t taken Saiyyara’s success in stride. No names have been confirmed publicly, but the inferences are obvious. Reports of obsessive box office tracking, late-night calls to trade analysts, and visible discomfort at social gatherings where Saiyyara comes up have surfaced from multiple sources. According to one insider, the actor reportedly exited an event prematurely after overhearing someone call Saiyyara “the film of the year.” If that isn’t insecurity dressed in designer wear, what is?
Online, the shift in perception is even more brutal. Ranveer Singh’s social media — once flooded with admiration and fan engagement — is now filled with jabs and snarky digs: “Uncle energy activated.” “Ranveer worried about a debutant? Embarrassing.” “He wore a chandelier but couldn’t carry a hit.”
The irony here is hard to ignore. Singh, once hailed as Bollywood’s disruptor — bold in choices, fearless in fashion, and unbothered by trends — now appears to be exactly what he once challenged: a legacy star struggling to maintain his footing in an evolving industry. His recent string of box office underperformers hasn’t helped either. Once seen as a consistent hit machine, he now seems caught in a cycle of misfires, unable to recapture the edge that made him a household name post-Band Baaja Baaraat and Gully Boy.
The media, too, has reportedly soured on Singh. Paps who once swarmed him now describe him as unpredictable and selectively accessible. Journalists mention erratic behaviour, awkward interviews, and a general lack of clarity in his public messaging. If the buzz is to be believed, even his off-screen antics — once considered charming — have started grating on those who used to champion him.
What Saiyyara seems to have done is lift the curtain on an uncomfortable truth: the era of blind loyalty to big names is waning. Today’s audience demands authenticity, relevance, and consistency — and that doesn't come from flashy appearances or nostalgia-fueled stardom. Ahaan Panday has simply stepped into the spotlight and done his job. That it has ruffled feathers speaks volumes about the fragile egos operating behind the scenes.
There’s no denying that Ranveer Singh’s contribution to Hindi cinema has been significant. But if the current wave of murmurs is any indication, the actor may now be facing the same question every once-unshakable star must confront: adapt, or fade. Because in this business, respect isn’t preserved — it’s re-earned with every new Friday.
Whether or not Singh is truly rattled, the optics aren’t in his favor. And the industry, unforgiving as ever, is already looking to crown its next king.