Aneet Padda Reacts to Adorable Childhood Stage Video: “Smiling So Wide My Cheeks Hurt”
Aneet Padda Reacts to Adorable Childhood Stage Video: "Smiling So Wide My Cheeks Hurt"
After Saiyaara shattered box office records, Aneet Padda has been basking in the spotlight. But even as her stardom climbs, a recent social media moment has reminded fans of her modest roots — and it’s winning hearts all over again.
It started when a devoted fan stumbled upon an old video on YouTube and reposted it to Instagram. The footage, taken during the 2012–2013 Annual Theatre Festival, features a 10-year-old Aneet confidently performing on stage in a lively yellow and green kurta. Her enthusiasm, natural talent, and charm were evident even at that young age. Alongside the post, the fan wrote, “Here is link for everyone who want to watch it.
The video didn’t just stir up fond memories for her followers — it moved Aneet as well. She replied to the post with, “Oh my god, this was a defining moment for me. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this, I’ve been trying to find it for the longest time—smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.” Her heartfelt reaction reflected just how meaningful that performance had been in shaping her journey.
Fans flooded the comments with admiration and love. One commented, “Always a Stargirl,” while another said, “Soo cute—you look the same!” Summing up the outpouring of affection, someone wrote, “You deserve every single praise and love, Aneet… born superstar.”
For those unfamiliar with her rise, Aneet Padda’s path to fame is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from Amritsar and without any film industry connections, she began with television commercials and landed a minor role in Salaam Venky (2022) alongside Kajol. Her big break came in 2024 with Amazon Prime’s Big Girls Don’t Cry, where she not only starred in the lead role but also lent her voice and musical talent to a track titled Masoom. In 2025, she appeared in the anthology series Yuva: Sapno Ka Safar.
But it was Saiyaara, a romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri and released in July 2025, that catapulted her to national fame. Starring opposite Ahaan Panday and backed by Yash Raj Films’ Akshaye Widhani, the film has amassed an incredible ₹569.75 crore globally, ranking as one of the year’s biggest cinematic successes.
