Fourteen years ago, on 11-11-11, a film released that redefined what love, pain, and art could look like on screen. Rockstar wasn’t just a movie it was a feeling. And as the Imtiaz Ali-directed classic turned 14 years old, actress Sanjana Sanghi who played the young Mandy, Heer’s sister took to social media to pen a note so heartfelt it instantly struck a chord with fans.
Sanjana shared a series of photos with Imtiaz Ali and reflected on how deeply Rockstar shaped her life. “Over these 14 years of celebrating Rockstar’s anniversary every year, I've gone from being a little girl in Class 9 when it released, to graduating school, college and then finally choosing to become an actor full time,” she wrote.
“Through this time, I've interacted with and understood our film in so many different and beautiful ways. This film is the reason I discovered that acting was something I love so deeply.”
The actress reserved her most touching words for the man behind the film Imtiaz Ali calling him the person who helped her realize what she was capable of.“More than the film, it is this most special and incredible human being who gently held my hand and made me realize my love for it, or that I was even capable of it,” she wrote.
“@imtiazaliofficial sorry for the emo post but I've been playing our album through the work day today, and I can't help but smile wide thinking back at all the moments over these years of me growing up, that you've held my hand, invisibly but ever so firmly. You're the best. Thank you for giving an entire generation one of its favourite films & for giving me Mandy. ♥️”
Released on November 11, 2011, Rockstar starred Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri in a passionate, soul-stirring love story that mirrored the agony and ecstasy of being an artist. With A.R. Rahman’s unforgettable soundtrack and Imtiaz Ali’s poetic direction, the film became a generational anthem. Songs like Kun Faya Kun, Nadaan Parindey, and Tum Ho still carry the same ache they did over a decade ago. Rockstar wasn’t about fame — it was about feeling. And for Sanjana Sanghi, it was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with cinema itself.
In the years since Rockstar, Sanjana has carved her own space in the industry, delivering a moving performance in Dil Bechara and taking on diverse roles that showcase her growth as an artist. Yet, her recent post proves that no matter how far she goes, a part of her will always belong to that 14-year-old world of music, heartbreak, and discovery that Rockstar built.
Her gratitude towards Imtiaz Ali feels like a full-circle moment, the student returning to thank her teacher, not with words alone, but with a career that stands as proof of what he helped awaken in her.
As Rockstar turns 14, it continues to live in the hearts of those who saw themselves in its chaos and beauty. For Sanjana Sanghi, it’s more than an anniversary — it’s a reminder of where it all began.
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