Ananya Panday, a name that has resonated within Bollywood since her debut, emerges at 25 as a dynamic force navigating the changing lanes of her career. In an engaging conversation with mid-day’s entertainment editor Mayank Shekhar at the latest Sit with Hitlist event, Ananya opens up about her journey, her famous family, and her aspirations that blend the glitz of the past with the promise of nuanced, meaningful performances.
The young actor, affectionately called “ACP” by dedicated paparazzi—a nod to both Assistant Commissioner of Police and her lineage via her father Chunky Panday—has intriguingly intertwined her identity with her father’s iconic legacy. Chunky, a celebrated star from the 1980s, has always loomed large in Ananya’s life, albeit in a supportive capacity. Ananya acknowledges the quirks and changes in perception over the years, with photographers now associating her with different personas like “Bae” from her Prime Video series, Call Me Bae.
Ananya’s journey into the film industry might have been eased by her family’s standing, but it hasn’t shielded her from the complexities of the fame game. Her experience at Umang, the annual Mumbai Police gala, serves as an anecdotal insight into the humorous side of stardom, where creativity knows no bounds, and not every shout from photographers captures the essence of her identity.
Reflecting on her start, Ananya fondly recalls her school days with Bollywood contemporaries like Sara Ali Khan, whose teasing elder sister role gave rise to stories that now prompt laughter rather than fear. Their paths in Bollywood are intertwined, with Sara debuting in Kedarnath the same year Janhvi Kapoor made her entry with Dhadak, marking the trio as GenZ’s leading lights.
Reminiscing on her cinematic inspirations, Ananya shares, “My dad had a handy-cam, and I’d perform endlessly, dreaming of Bollywood,” revealing a lifelong aspiration fueled by icons like Alia Bhatt, who blazed her own trail in Student of the Year (SOTY). Ananya’s own introduction in SOTY 2 was equally pivotal, setting the stage for a career that began in star-studded commercial films but has gradually evolved into deeper cinematic endeavors.
A turning point in Ananya’s career was her collaboration with director Shakun Batra in the film Gehraiyaan, which profoundly shaped her approach to acting. “Shakun taught me to craft a backstory for my character, even if it’s not explicitly shown on screen,” she notes.
. This process encouraged Ananya to dive into her roles, embracing deeper narratives and sensitively navigating her roles with improved finesse, reflecting the zeitgeist of her generation.
Ananya is candid about the unexpected, absurd corners of Bollywood, admitting missteps like the much-criticized Liger, a film she prefers not to dwell on. Yet, she balances this with the pride of her subsequent projects like Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (KGHK) and CTRL where her adaptability and willingness to embrace technology-centric stories are celebrated.
CTRL, a standout in her recent portfolio, sees Ananya transforming into a tech-savvy YouTuber, a role immersively resonating with Generation Z’s real-world entanglements with technology. Her behind-the-scenes involvement in the screenplay, advising on character nuances, underscores her creative influence and represents her shift from mere acting to active participation in filmmaking.
A glimpse into her personal sphere reveals Ananya’s thoughtful engagement with influencer culture, a byproduct of the social media era. While she admits to being a phone addict, she differentiates herself from content creators like her cousin Alanna Panday, who actively document their lives. “We actors have the privilege of privacy,” Ananya remarks, highlighting the contrasting pressures between actors and influencers.
Ananya’s thoughtful reflections extend to traditional events like the Paris Debutantes’ Ball, a networking stage she’s past experienced, serving both as a social debut and a unique training ground. This blend of cultural exposure and personal growth further equips her to navigate Bollywood’s tapestry of stories and relationships.
In sum, Ananya Panday stands as a vibrant example of being at the right juncture both in her personal timeline and the broader cinematic landscape. As she continues to evolve, her willingness to embrace change and challenge conventional expectations in Bollywood sets her apart, promising a future as compelling as her journey thus far.
