Aneet Padda's role in Saiyaara sparks debate, can you really get Alzheimer's at 22? Doctors break down the rare condition
Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara stars Ahaan Panday as Krish Kapoor, a struggling musician, and Aneet Padda as Vaani Batra, a quiet aspiring journalist. Their story takes a turn when Vaani begins forgetting basic things, first small details, then entire conversations.
In one of the film's pivotal moments, Vaani collapses and is rushed to the hospital. When asked by doctors, she can't recall her brother's age or the date. She is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, a rare but real condition. How accurate is Saiyaara's portrayal of Alzheimer's?
While the film has opened conversations around the disease, neurologists say its depiction is far from medical reality.
Dr. Sunil Singla, Head of Neurology at Shalby Sanar Hospital, says, 'Early-onset Alzheimer's is diagnosed in people under 65, but cases in someone as young as 22, like Vaani, are extremely rare.'
Dr. Kaustubh Mahajan from PD Hinduja Hospital adds that such cases may occur only due to rare genetic mutations:
'It's called early-onset Alzheimer's dementia. If it's seen in the 20s, it's extremely rare and likely genetically linked to mutations like APP or TSEN.' What are the actual symptoms of Alzheimer's?
In the film, Vaani experiences dizziness, fainting, and sudden memory loss after emotional trauma. But experts say these are dramatised for cinematic effect.
Real early Alzheimer's symptoms, as listed by the NHS, typically include: Difficulty remembering recent events or conversations
Misplacing everyday objects
Repeating questions
Struggling to find words
Trouble with decision-making
Hesitation in trying new tasks
Dr. Singla explains, 'Symptoms like fainting or instant memory loss after seeing someone are not typical of Alzheimer's. These scenes are dramatised to serve the film's narrative.' Experts call it 'exaggerated,' but conversation-worthy
One key scene shows Vaani forgetting the last six months after a sudden emotional trigger—a plot twist neurologists say doesn't align with medical evidence. Dr. Singla remarked, 'They've exaggerated it for the sake of storytelling. Alzheimer's doesn't progress this fast, especially in someone that young.'
He further added, 'Depression can be an early sign of dementia, but Alzheimer's itself isn't triggered by emotional shocks. These are more 'masala' elements.' Despite the medical inaccuracies, doctors and critics alike agree the film plays a vital role—it gets people talking about memory health.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Saiyaara box office collection: Ahaan's debut crosses Rs 404 crore globally
Saiyaara box office collection: Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has officially made box office history by surpassing the Rs. 400 crore mark worldwide. The Yash Raj Films-backed romantic musical is now one of the highest-grossing love stories in the history of Indian cinema. Saiyaara's box office receipts in India were Rs 266 crore. The movie left a lasting impression, posting staggering numbers at the box office. With no fierce competition in sight, Saiyaara is poised to earn another Rs 100 crore at the Indian box office in its second week of release. Saiyaara enters the Rs 400 crore club at the global box office collection According to a post by Yash Raj Films on their official Instagram handle, the producers of Saiyaara celebrated the Rs 404 crore collection of the movie. They wrote, "#Saiyaara is touching hearts everywhere... " Saiyaara Global Box Office Collection Saiyaara has also produced excellent results at the global box office collection. The film has been well received by viewers in North America, the UK, Australia, the Middle East, and even in developing nations like Nepal, where it has become the highest-grossing Indian film of the year, earning Rs. 86 crore from foreign markets. During its second weekend, the movie had an unexpected spike in a number of international territories; in some countries, the gain was over 300%, indicating significant word-of-mouth excitement. In addition to being a financial success, reaching the Rs. 400 crore mark sends a strong message: love dramas still have enormous box office potential when done with passion. Saiyaara Indian Box Office Collection Since its incredible Indian premiere, the movie has continued to gain traction. Saiyaara has demonstrated incredible endurance at the domestic box office, grossing Rs. 318 crore and earning Rs. 260.25 crore net. Its success in both tier-2 and metropolitan cities highlights the movie's broad popularity and steady pull into its second weekend and the weekdays. About the film, Saiyaara The film, which was produced by Yash Raj Films, poignantly addresses heartache, loss, and love. Aneet Padda plays Vaani Batra, a young writer with early-onset Alzheimer's illness, while rookie Ahaan Pandey plays Krish Kapoor, a struggling musician. The film's success can be attributed in large part to Mohit Suri's emotive narrative and the newfound connection between Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The soundtrack of the movie, particularly the number-one title single, has been instrumental in enhancing its cultural influence.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 minutes ago
- First Post
'Saiyaara': Ahaan Panday, Mohit Suri, Aneet Padda celebrate film's success in Singapore, actress refuses to pose for paparazzi at Mumbai airport- Watch
The team deserves to celebrate the blockbuster success and how! But not in India, they have flown all the way to Singapore as per reports to party and let their hair down read more Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda starrer Saiyaara, which has turned out to be a phenomenon at the Indian box office, has even surprised fans and experts with its blockbuster response in the international circuits. It has turned out to be the highest grosser of 2025 for Bollywood in Nepal with 6.62 Crore NPR gross (4.14 CR INR), beating Housefull 5 — 4.92 crore (3.1 cr INR), Sitare Zameen Par — 3.22 crore (2 cr INR) and even Chhaava — 2.20 crore (1.4 cr INR). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The team deserves to celebrate the blockbuster success and how! But not in India, they have flown all the way to Singapore as per reports to party and let their hair down. Padda was feeling shy and refused to pose for the paparazzi at the Mumbai airport. It is quite heartening to see a film featuring faces surpassing the business of franchise and big stars in a country due to its emotional storyline and music, which has struck a chord with the audience. \_Saiyaara\_ is still going super strong in Nepal and is expected to rake in more moolah in the coming days. Despite not going all out with the promotions, Saiyaara garnered unprecedented excitement among the cinegoers. Before the release of the movie, director Mohit Suri spoke about it and told Firstpost, 'I've been inside the studio for the last one month. I have no idea. And unlike the past when people travel from one studio to another, this is everything inhouse at YRF. So I haven't really gone out and met the world outside. Normally, when you are working on other films, you go out for the day; for sound, edit, and VFX. It was different different places. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Economic Times
6 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Aamir Khan explains why ‘Saiyaara' movie is so famous with Gen Z as the film becomes a Rs 400 crore box office hit
Synopsis Why Saiyaara movie is so famous? Aamir Khan attributes Saiyaara's Gen Z appeal to its emotional storytelling and youthful themes, highlighting evolving audience preferences. The film's success, crossing ₹400 crore, is celebrated by the production house, praising debut actors and the director's intensity. Khan also announced his upcoming film, Sitaare Zameen Par, will release globally on YouTube in 2025. Agencies Saiyaara movie As romantic drama Saiyaara continues its strong run at the box office, Aamir Khan has spoken about why the film is striking a chord with younger viewers. The actor shared his thoughts during a recent event held for his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par. At the event, Aamir Khan said that the success of Saiyaara shows how audience preferences are changing with each generation. He noted that the film seems to have clicked with Gen Z viewers because of its emotional storytelling and youthful themes.'Each generation has its own taste,' Aamir said. 'As a creative professional, I aim to explore diverse stories that connect with audiences across the board.'While Saiyaara has gained popularity among Gen Z, Aamir Khan said his goal is to create stories that speak to a wide audience. 'I want to make content not just for Gen Z and the younger generation, but also for varied age groups and interests,' he said. He added that working with different themes gives him more space to connect with different sections of the film's strong box office performance, Aamir Khan's production house released a message celebrating the success of Saiyaara. The statement praised debut actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda for their emotional performances and chemistry on screen. It also credited director Mohit Suri for adding intensity to the film and thanked YRF for backing a story that blends melody and emotion. The growing interest in Saiyaara among Gen Z has been evident across social media platforms, where users have been sharing scenes, dialogues, and music clips from the film. The romantic drama has inspired fan edits, song covers, and themed reels that continue to trend. College students and young working professionals make up a large section of its theatre audience, with many citing its relatable emotions and music as key reasons for repeat viewings. According to industry estimates, Saiyaara has crossed ₹200 crore at the domestic box office within three weeks of its release. According to Screen , at the worldwide box office, Saiyaara has passed the Rs 400 crore mark. The film, made on a reported budget of ₹45 crore, recovered its cost in just three days after the release. Trade analysts have called it one of the year's surprise commercial successes, especially as it featured two debutants in the lead roles. The music album, which includes tracks by popular artists, has also contributed to the film's wide appeal. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara follows the story of two young individuals who meet during a college cultural exchange programme. Set against urban and semi-urban backdrops, the narrative explores how they navigate ambition, personal trauma, and the changing nature of relationships. While the core theme revolves around love, the story also touches on self-discovery, anxiety, and finding strength in emotional connection. The film has sparked a broader conversation online about whether Saiyaara is the modern-day successor to romantic hits like Aashiqui 2. While some viewers feel the emotional weight and musical treatment resemble the earlier classic, others believe Saiyaara brings a more contemporary tone and reflects today's relationship dynamics more honestly. Critics have also been divided, some praised the direction and performances, while others pointed out a predictable plotline and overuse of melodrama. A poll asking why Saiyaara is popular among Gen Z cited emotional storytelling and the film's soundtrack as key the same event, Aamir Khan announced that his next film Sitaare Zameen Par will release globally on YouTube on August 1, 2025. The film stars Aamir and Genelia Deshmukh and features a cast that includes actors with intellectual disabilities. It will be available in India for Rs 100 and in 38 other countries with pricing based on region.
