Chunky Panday Responds To Backlash Over Ananya Panday’s Bharatanatyam Performance

Actor Chunky Panday has defended his daughter, Ananya Panday, amid backlash over a viral clip showing her performing a fusion Bharatanatyam sequence from her upcoming film Chand Mera Dil, which triggered criticism from sections of social media, classical dancers, and public commentators. The controversy began after a short video from the film surfaced online, prompting criticism that the performance misrepresented the traditional Indian classical dance form. The clip quickly went viral, drawing widespread debate over whether the portrayal respected Bharatanatyam’s cultural and technical discipline or diluted it through modern interpretation.

Responding to the criticism, Chunky Panday said the reaction stemmed from a misunderstanding of the performance’s intent. Speaking to The Times of India, he said the sequence was never meant to represent pure Bharatanatyam, but rather a fusion-style performance. He added that audiences had judged the clip without considering its narrative or creative context within the film. He further explained that traditional Bharatanatyam requires extensive years of rigorous training and precision, describing it as a highly structured and disciplined art form. According to him, the sequence shown in the film blends classical elements with contemporary and experimental dance styles commonly seen in modern cultural performances, particularly among younger performers.

The actor urged audiences to view the film in full before forming conclusions, stressing that context is essential in interpreting artistic expression. He maintained that the performance should be understood as a creative interpretation rather than a strict classical recital, and cautioned against drawing conclusions based on short, isolated clips. Supporting the actor, the film’s assistant choreographer Ananya R. Kurup also came forward in defence of Panday, sharing behind-the-scenes images and praising her effort. She described the experience of training the actor as positive and noted that attempting a classical form within a limited timeframe required effort and commitment.

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Kurup added that learning Bharatanatyam typically takes years of training to master its technique and expressions, but said Ananya Panday had put in sincere effort for the role. She encouraged audiences to support performers who experiment with challenging art forms rather than criticising them harshly. Chand Mera Dil, written by Vivek Soni and Tushar Paranjape, features music by Sachin–Jigar, cinematography by Debojeet Ray, and editing by Prashanth Ramachandran, and is expected to explore contemporary themes through a stylised narrative approach.

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