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Actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda talk about Gen Z stardom, authenticity, and the evolving meaning of cool as they collaborate with Pepsi on a campaign celebrating youth culture
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda reflect on Gen Z stardom, authenticity, and how the meaning of “cool” is evolving in today’s digital culture.
For decades, “cool” in popular culture followed a predictable formula. It was exclusive, carefully controlled, and often built around mystique. Stars appeared rarely, spoke sparingly, and maintained distance from the audiences who admired them. The gap between celebrity and fan was part of the allure.
But in the age of social media, where audiences can witness every rehearsal, mistake, and behind-the-scenes moment in real time, that equation is rapidly changing. For Gen Z, cool is less about distance and more about authenticity.
Ahaan Panday believes the idea of cool has not disappeared, it has simply evolved. “What’s changed is that cool isn’t something you can guard behind velvet ropes anymore,” he says. “Earlier there was this idea that mystery made someone interesting. Now people see the whole journey, the messy bits, the process, the mistakes, the learning. Some people might see that as dilution, but I think it’s actually more honest.”
This transparency, he suggests, allows audiences to connect with artists on a more human level creating a different kind of appeal altogether.
Aneet Padda agrees that authenticity has become a cultural currency, particularly among younger audiences. “Gen Z has a strong radar for anything that feels manufactured,” she says. “Relatability isn’t just something the internet rewards, it’s something people genuinely look for. When someone feels real, audiences hold on to that.”
Stardom in the Era of Visibility
The evolving meaning of cool is also reshaping how stardom itself functions. Historically, celebrity status was built through controlled exposure, film releases, magazine covers, and carefully planned public appearances.
Today, however, visibility is constant. Yet both Panday and Padda argue that while digital platforms have accelerated attention, true stardom still requires longevity.
“Visibility is definitely part of the game now,” Panday says. “But I don’t think stardom has completely lost its magic. The difference is that audiences today decide very quickly whether you deserve that attention or not. You can be visible for a moment, but to actually become a star, your work has to stay with people.”
Padda describes the new dynamic as less hierarchical and more conversational.
“Stardom today feels less like a pedestal and more like a conversation,” she explains. “People watch you closely, your choices, your work, the way you carry yourself. Visibility might come faster, but respect still takes time to earn.”
The Gen Z Shift: From Power to Intention
Another shift shaping contemporary celebrity culture is Gen Z’s relationship with status and privilege. Unlike previous generations that often celebrated overt displays of wealth and power, younger audiences frequently lean toward understatement, irony, and self-awareness.
Panday believes this change reflects a deeper curiosity about values. “What I notice with Gen Z is that people care about intention,” he says. “People are asking: what do you stand for? What do you do with your platform? If conversations move in that direction, then the aesthetic shift might lead to something more meaningful.”
Padda, however, points out that cultural shifts are rarely simple. “There is definitely a change in how people present themselves, less about showing off and more about expressing who they are,” she says. “But at the same time, privilege doesn’t disappear just because you present it differently.”
The New Meaning of Private Space
In an industry where every moment can potentially become content, the concept of privacy itself is evolving.
For Panday, private space is increasingly defined by moments of disconnection rather than physical boundaries.
“As actors, so much of what we do is public,” he says. “But having moments that are just for yourself, time with family, close friends, or simply being offline, keeps you grounded. That’s the space where you’re not performing; you’re just being yourself.”
In the context of the campaign, the idea of a film star’s trailer, traditionally a symbol of hierarchy and arrival takes on a lighter meaning.
“The trailer is usually associated with something very big and aspirational in films,” Panday says. “But here it becomes more playful. It’s like a hangout space where you can take a breather, grab a Pepsi, and enjoy the moment.”
Padda echoes the sentiment, describing the trailer as less of a status marker and more of a social space. “In this campaign, the trailer doesn’t feel serious or distant,” she says. “It’s more like this cool little place where you can relax, laugh, and enjoy the moment.”
Brands and the Culture Conversation
As the relationship between audiences and celebrities evolves, brands too are redefining how they participate in culture. Increasingly, companies position themselves not just as advertisers but as participants in cultural conversations.
For young actors collaborating with major brands early in their careers, the challenge lies in maintaining authenticity within that ecosystem.
Panday says the key is ensuring that collaborations feel natural rather than performative.
“Pepsi has always been part of pop culture conversations in India,” he notes. “For us, it was about bringing our own personalities into the campaign and having fun with it. When that happens, it feels authentic rather than forced.”
Padda adds that the connection with youth culture helped make the collaboration feel organic.
“The campaign is playful and spontaneous,” she says. “It carries that ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ energy that Pepsi has always been associated with, and that’s something we both connected with.”
Defining ‘Cool’ in a Fragmented Culture
In today’s fragmented digital landscape, where trends can emerge and disappear within days, the idea of any single brand or celebrity defining cool may seem outdated.
Panday believes the role of brands has shifted from defining culture to participating in it.
“I think it’s less about defining cool and more about being part of moments that people enjoy,” he says. “When brands participate in that energy rather than trying to dictate it, it feels much more natural.”
For Padda, relevance comes from staying attuned to how culture moves.
“Culture moves really fast now,” she says. “But when a brand stays playful and open to that energy, it naturally stays connected with young audiences.”
Rethinking Symbols of Success
The campaign’s revival of the film trailer also reflects a broader generational shift in how success is perceived.
In the past, such symbols often represented hierarchy and exclusivity. Today, however, younger audiences tend to interpret success in more personal and fluid ways.
Panday sees the campaign as bridging both ideas. “Earlier the trailer was seen as a big symbol of success in films,” he says. “But for our generation, success feels more personal. The Pepsi Trailer plays on that idea, it’s about the vibe, the journey, and enjoying the moment.”
Padda adds that reframing these symbols makes them more relatable. “It takes something that once felt exclusive and turns it into something playful,” she says. “In the campaign, the trailer isn’t about status. It’s about energy, fun, and sharing those moments together.”
The Future of Cool
If there is one defining feature of Gen Z culture, it may be its refusal to treat cool as a fixed category. Instead, cool is something negotiated continuously, shaped by authenticity, participation, and cultural awareness.
In that world, exclusivity may matter less than connection, and stardom may depend less on distance than on how closely audiences feel they know the people they admire.
For actors like Panday and Padda, navigating that balance between visibility and authenticity, aspiration and relatability, may well define the next era of celebrity culture.
March 17, 2026, 15:23 IST
