“I’d rather my work speak about me”

The critics may have labelled her as "just another star-kid" during her debut film Student of the Year 2 but actor Ananya Panday has proven her worth. Particularly noteworthy is her recent performance in the OTT film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, where critics have praised Panday as "terrific and evolved" in the role of Ahaana. In the film, the young icon explores the impact of social media on one's life, portraying a proactive character addressing the challenges youngsters face due to the constant flow of information on social platforms. Panday emphasises the anxiety-inducing impact of platforms that can make them distressed. The actor is riding high with the praise her latest release has garnered. Panday says, "I feel more validated than happy. Not just the fact that I chose to be Ahaana, but also that my character makes those choices in the film. I am happy that people noticed small things that I did in the film and liked them. More than anything, they found comfort in my character." Talking about the response her latest release has received, the 25-year-old shares, “We are all so much over the moon! It was a very pleasant surprise! What was noteworthy was that despite being on OTT, the response was theatrical - almost everyone saw it at the same time - almost as soon as it was released." Directed by Arjun Varain Singh, the film delves into the complexities of modern relationships in the era of social media. Speaking about the relatable nature of the narrative, Panday says, "It is very real - how the characters interact, how they spend time, hangout at specific places, and just the way that the world is right now - social media is the fourth character in everyone’s life now - and how relationships are being affected in this time. Isn't it very real?” The young Gen Z cast and crew left no stone unturned in their efforts to make the film seem as real and relatable as possible. Narrating an anecdote while shooting in Goa, Panday says, "In the very first schedule, we went to Goa to shoot the first song ‘Hone Do Jo Hota Hai,’ which I actually recorded on my phone. They gave us scooters and sent us to bars and beaches. All of it was actually happening, and I just happened to record all of it on my phone, and we made a song out of it. Isn't that how most of us in this generation live - take life as it comes?"

Personal space

This is also probably why the actor, with an active presence on social media, is adept at dodging questions on her personal life. Panday has not been exactly revelatory about her relationship with rumored beau actor Aditya Roy Kapoor, but neither has she been coy. Ask her about all the conjecture of personal and professional life on social media and she says, “We are living in times dominated by media. Weird as it may sound, my generation doesn’t really know a world without social media. Even before my first film, I was always posting on social media, but in a private account with 15 to 20 friends. Now, privacy is one of the things I am choosing very consciously. I'd rather my work tell you more about me." In response to her father's (veteran actor Chunky Panday) comments about her relationship with Kapoor on social media, she says, "That's his choice. Honestly, social media is a beast that should not be taken seriously. I tend to take it with a pinch of salt. I'm a believer in keeping things private and special because you are dealing with relationships like any normal person. You are feeling it out with the person that you are with, and so sometimes it feels unfair and little personal to put those things out for everyone to comment on. I don't think I am comfortable with that." For now, the actor is in a happy space. "It is a long journey ahead. I want to do big commercial cinema, which I love watching as an audience. I want to do a biopic of a sportsperson or a classical singer or dancer, for which I have to learn a specific skill. I want to be challenged as an actor," she adds. Excited about her upcoming cyber-thriller, Control by Vikramaditya Motwane, she says, "I am hoping people will appreciate the choices I am making and continue to support me in my growth as a performer."

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Knowing her better

Cheat meal

"I am obsessed with chicken dishes. I could probably have butter chicken all my life! I am obsessed with chicken popcorn too! It might not show on my body, but I eat a lot! My ideal cheat meal would be butter chicken with cheese naan and then choco-chip cookies with ice cream."

Cooking therapy

"I can't cook much but I do make a good Szechwan cheese dosa! My friends joke that I could be sending them that every morning for breakfast! I love pottering around in the kitchen. It is therapeutic!"

Ananya Panday says that she loves big commercial cinema. The actor adds, "I want to do a biopic of a sportsperson or a classical singer or dancer, for which I have to learn a specific skill."

Ideal holiday

“That would be at home, in my bed, munching chicken popcorn with endless bowls of Maggi and watching Kill Bill or Shutter Island."

Dream vacation

"One year of my life, I want to dedicate to just travelling! From Ibiza to Mexico and from Paris and South Africa to Japan, I want to globe-trot."

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