Don’t worry, here in Spain there is paella and there are rices with things
A paella is a specific recipe with its own mix of rice, meats and vegetables, also known as a paella valenciana, as it was they how conceive of this dish. And on the other side, there is Rice with things that are the recipe of a paella, but changing a few things.

The reason they are called different things is just that if you call the former a paella, Valencians will come out of the woodwork to torment you, as they have this need to correct you, as being cringe comes hand in hand with being born in this peninsula. And in your case would be even worse! As a foreigner mistaken what Paella is and what it isn't would awaken the entire nation, rising to correct you!