Ahaan Panday to transform for high-octane YRF action film, begins 5-hour daily training
Actor Ahaan Panday, whose debut film ‘Saiyyara’ smashed box-office records and turned him into an overnight sensation, is now gearing up for his next big-screen appearance — and this time, he’s going full beast mode.
According to industry sources, the young actor is set to begin a grueling 5-hour-per-day fitness and combat training schedule for his upcoming film with director Ali Abbas Zafar, backed by Yash Raj Films (YRF). The project is expected to present Ahaan in a radically different avatar, far from the charming romantic hero audiences saw in his debut.
Intense physical prep: Boxing, MMA & strength training
A source close to the film shared exclusive details, saying:
“Ahaan will start his training in boxing first and then move on to mixed martial arts and hardcore strength conditioning. The idea is to build serious muscle mass and transform his posture, stance and physicality for screen.”
The source further added:
“Ali Abbas Zafar wants to showcase Ahaan as a young boy who can physically take down people with brute force. No one can imagine him in this fierce avatar yet — and YRF plans to keep everything tightly under wraps until the first visual drops.”
Working birthday, no breaks
Ahaan, who celebrates his birthday next month, is reportedly spending it with stunt trainers instead of family — diving straight into his action prep as the film’s pre-production accelerates.
The transformation is expected to be one of the most dramatic physical makeovers for a new-generation Bollywood actor in recent years — continuing the industry trend of realism, skill-based combat, and dedicated body transformations.
Saiyyara’s success and the pressure of Film #2
Ahaan Panday’s debut ‘Saiyyara’ shook the industry with a ₹21.5 crore opening day, bringing audiences back to theatres in record numbers, reviving commercial Bollywood, and topping music charts nationwide.
For context, even Ajay Devgn’s ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ — released weeks later — opened at just ₹7.25 crore, despite postponing its release to avoid a clash with ‘Saiyyara’. The craze around Ahaan’s entry is being compared to the explosive debuts of Hrithik Roshan in ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’ and Aamir-Juhi in ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’.
With such a massive launch, expectations from his second film are sky-high — and the collaboration with Ali Abbas Zafar and YRF signals a deliberate shift toward a tougher, larger-than-life mass appeal.
What we know so far
- Film is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar (known for ‘Sultan’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’)
- Produced by Yash Raj Films
- Ahaan’s role is action-heavy and physically demanding
- Training has already begun, with secrecy maintained around the project
- Official announcement expected in early 2026
Industry buzz & expectations
Trade analysts believe YRF is positioning Ahaan Panday as its next big action star, potentially aligning him with the studio’s growing spy/action universe in the long run.
Insiders also point out the strategic timing — giving him a strong follow-up that distances him from the “romantic debut” stereotype and solidifies him as an all-round commercial lead.
Fans, meanwhile, are eagerly waiting for the first glimpse of Ahaan’s new avatar, with many already drawing parallels to transformations done by young stars in Hollywood franchises like Creed and Spider-Man.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Ahaan Panday’s second film is not just another release — it’s a critical test of staying power and stardom. If the transformation works and Ali Abbas Zafar delivers a hit, Bollywood may have its next-gen action hero locked in. The real excitement, however, lies in seeing whether ‘Saiyyara’ was a one-off phenomenon or the beginning of a blockbuster era.
