In an era where beauty trends change overnight and social media filters often blur the lines between reality and perfection, celebrities face constant pressure to keep up. Yet, for Ananya Panday, beauty today is less about following trends and more about embracing authenticity. During a quick chat with us, the actress reveals that she has never been someone who actively chases beauty trends and instead, sticks to what appeals to her naturally.

While talking to us at the Amazon.in Beautyverse 2026 event in Mumbai, the Call Me Bae actress says, “I am not someone who is a trend follower. I literally have to search online to see what is currently trending, else I wouldn’t know. I just know what works for me.”

Ananya received appreciation for her performances in recent releases such as Kesari Chapter 2 and Chand Mera Dil though the films didn’t do wonders at the box office. The actress, who has seen a fair measure of both success and failure, firmly believes in the magic of the big screen. 

“I feel cinema is forever. I love going and watching every kind of film in theatres. My most favourite thing to do is watching whatever is releasing every week. For me, going to the movies was an integral part of growing up. I would encourage the younger generation to go to the theatres to watch movies and keep our cinemas alive,” she says.

Actor Deepika Padukone sparked debate last year over eight-hour work shifts after reportedly exiting films like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD (2024). Now, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have defended her stance, saying such conversations with producers are necessary.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Kareena said clear communication and planning are key, especially for working mothers. Recalling her time shooting The Buckingham Murders (2024), she shared that she informed producers in advance about returning to her children while her husband, Saif Ali Khan, looked after them. She further spoke about Deepika’s eight-hour shift demand and added that if actors are married, they need a partner who understands, as they cannot both work and leave the children alone.

“I feel like if you are married and have children… You should be able to say this is what I want. I can work this number of hours. I think it’s completely fine to say that way before a film starts,” Kareena said.

Ananya, on the other hand, said, “I have worked with Deepika (in the 2022 film Gehraiyaan), and before she became a mother, there was no such thing like that. She was working, coming to workshops, no complaints and no asking for anything. Now she’s a mother… she needs to be present with her child in the first two years. I think it’s okay to have a conversation with your producer to find a balance.”

You can’t talk about Kohrra (2023) without talking about Suvinder Vicky, its breakout star. Now, the Netflix crime thriller has moved on to its second season, albeit without him, and so has he, with the upcoming series Shabad - Reet Aur Riwaaz. Even then, during our chat, Vicky’s attachment to Kohrra was evident as he asked, chuckling, “Are people missing me?”

The second season of Sudip Sharma’s creation features Barun Sobti from the original alongside Mona Singh, a new entrant in the universe. Was it always designed to go ahead without him, we asked Vicky. “Initially, I think the makers didn’t expect the show to blow up in a way that there would be a second season. Sudip has also [said] that. I didn’t even know when the second part was happening, or if it was happening at all. I was shooting for Glory [his upcoming Netflix show] at that time. When I was told that I wasn’t part of Kohrra: Season 2, I thought, ‘Okay, I anyway have work’.”

Did he feel bad about being left out? “Not at all. Whatever happens, happens for the good,” smiled Vicky, presumably referring to Shabad.

The ZEE5 family drama features the actor as a strict patriarch, who wants his son to follow in his footsteps as a Ragi singer. To Vicky, a parent to two girls, the opportunity to explore a father-son relationship was exciting.

He recalled, “After the shoot, I hugged my father, which I had never done in my life. I couldn’t tell him that I love him, so I made an excuse to hug him. I felt so much warmth for him after doing the show.”

Unlike his character, Vicky wouldn’t dream of thrusting his wishes on his daughters. But the actor in him is hopeful that they may join the film industry. “My younger daughter wants to become a doctor, but I tell her that she should try acting. My elder daughter has done a Punjabi film. She asks me if she should [continue] and I [encourage her]. My name [may] help her a bit. Ananya Panday and so many star daughters are doing it. So, why not my daughters?”

Adding a Maddock Films’ entertainer to her filmography may not happen as soon as Ananya Panday had expected. While the actor was supposed to lead Choomantar along with Munjya (2023) find Abhay Verma, sources have now told mid-day that Panday is no longer attached to the fantasy romance. Reason? Scheduling conflicts with the second season of Call Me Bae, we’re told.

It turns out the change was made recently after it became clear that Panday’s 2026 commitments would overlap with the timeline of Tarun Dudeja’s directorial venture. A source revealed, “The team of Choomantar is aiming to begin filming in January 2026. That clashes with Call Me Bae 2, which recently went on floors. So, Ananya and the makers of Choomantar decided to part ways, with the promise of working soon.”

Following her exit, the makers are said to have restructured the cast. We’ve learnt that South actor Sreeleela and Janki Bodiwala of Vash Level 2 fame are expected to lead the film with Verma.

The source added, “A mock shoot with the trio happened last week. The fantasy romantic drama has been in preparation for several months, and workshops are likely to begin next week.”

akash.bhatnagar@​partner.hindustantimes.com

Tanya Maniktala has been working in the industry for seven years, but she had been living in Delhi all this while and commuting back-and-forth for work. Now, just before Diwali, she finally moved to Mumbai and is currently busy settling in.

“I just thought that it’s time to get out of my comfort zone. Delhi is home but Mumbai has also given me so much warmth and welcomed me with open arms, so I thought it’s time to embrace it now and make the move,” she says.

While the actor admits that being in Delhi never hampered her work much, she did miss out on some last minute events and appearances: “Being in Delhi in the comfort of my home, I was getting a little more passive to these things, and I would let things slide. Now I am actively a part of everything that’s happening. I feel I am a lot more hands-on now.”

Getting to live on her own for the first time, makes Tanya feel ecstatic yet nervous. She says, “There are a lot of firsts happening and I’m so excited. They come with a lot of joy, and also some nervous moments. But I think I am in the company of good people and I’ve kind of got my foot in the door now,” adding, “I like having to look after myself because it also gives me a purpose, but I also miss being taken care of. Things like food were always ready for me, so learning everything from scratch has been fun, I’m enjoying the independence but missing the convenience.”

On the work front, Tanya is rumoured to be pairing up with actor Rajkummar Rao for a film, and talking to us, she confirms it, “Even though the project with Raj sir is not announced, the news is already out. It’s currently in the works. It’s not surreal, but I think I did not allow myself to imagine these kind of things could happen to me. Now that it’s working out, I am thankful to my lucky stars, although I also worked pretty hard for it. One day, it had to happen and I’m just glad I’m prepared for this opportunity that’s come my way.”

She also addressed reports of her replacing actor Ananya Panday in the Amrita Sher-Gil biopic, saying, “I have no idea where this piece of information has come from. We have no idea about the Amrita Shergil project, so, I don’t think I can comment on that.”

For Kartik Aaryan, 2025 will always remain one of his most special years, with big film announcements one after the other, and of course, his Best Actor wins: IIFA for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Filmfare for Chandu Champion, both 2024 releases. As we catch up with him, the confidence shines through, in both his choices and ambition:

Honestly, I didn’t look at Chandu Champion as an experiment at all. The moment I heard the story of (India’s first paralympic gold medallist) Murlikant Petkar ji, I was surprised and deeply moved. I felt this was a story of incredible resilience, courage, and self belief; one every Indian should know. I could totally relate to his story and considered myself truly blessed to get the opportunity to portray such an inspirational real-life hero on screen. I will always be indebted to Kabir (Khan, director) sir and Sajid (Nadiadwala, producer) sir for trusting me with this incredible story. Winning the Filmfare Best Actor award feels like a huge validation, not just for me but for the kind of cinema that celebrates real stories and the human spirit.

(Laughs) Yes, you can say that! Chatori is actually a gift from my mom, and she’s already become everyone’s favourite at home. Bas Katori thodi si insecure ho gayi hai! Abhi tak donon ki dosti nahin hui hai. But still, Katori is very protective of Chatori like a big sister. The house feels livelier with both of them around.

The love the audience showered on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was overwhelming, it felt like a festival inside theatres. The film released alongside another massive franchise, and there was immense anticipation among the audience, trade, and media for both. Together, the two films did a combined business of over Rs. 800 crores worldwide (BB3 – Rs. 423.85 cr, Singham Returns – Rs. 389.64 cr). That year, Diwali genuinely felt like Diwali for the entire industry.

For me, these big box office numbers are very motivating, but more than pressure, I see it as a responsibility, to keep entertaining the audience and living up to their expectations. At the same time, I try not to let the numbers dictate my choices. For me, it’s always about the story and the connection it creates with the audience. If that works, everything else follows.

The film has shaped up beautifully, it’s got that perfect mix of heart, fun, and festive energy. We had a blast shooting it, and that vibe translates on screen. Reuniting with Ananya was like picking up where we left off, she was a total live-wire on set. She’s going to surprise everyone. I’m sure the audience will enjoy our chemistry in this fun, refreshing rom-com as Ray-Rumi and all the masti the film brings.

Rom-coms come to me quite naturally, maybe they’re just in my DNA (laughs). I guess the audience also enjoys seeing me in such roles, which makes it more special. But I never want to be confined to one genre. I love exploring different kinds of stories and characters. At the end of the day, I go by what truly connects with me, a story that moves me and one that will entertain the audience, no matter what the genre is.

I think I’m also a bit of a businessman at heart (smiles). For me, it’s equally important to market a film in the best possible way. Today, storytelling doesn’t end with the shoot, how you present it to the audience matters just as much. So I like being involved in all aspects of film making. Thankfully, my producers have been welcoming and yes, even I have heard about the ‘Kartik Aaryan template’ being discussed at films marketing meetings! Trust me, its really encouraging.

Ananya Panday has a not-so-surprising birthday gift coming her way. Trade insiders have told mid-day that the first look of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, starring Kartik Aaryan and Panday, will be unveiled on the latter’s birthday on October 30. An industry source revealed, “The team wanted the first-look reveal to feel special, and Ananya’s birthday felt like the perfect occasion.”

That’s not all. Fans won’t have to wait too long to know more about Sameer Vidwans’s directorial venture. The love story’s trailer is expected to drop on Aaryan’s birthday, November 22. A trade source said, “Through their marketing strategy, the makers want to celebrate both the leads, first Ananya with the poster, then Kartik with the trailer.”

The rom-com, which marks Aaryan’s reunion with Vidwans after Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023) and with Panday after Pati Patni Aur Woh (2019), has been shot and its post-production is underway. The love story’s promotional campaign will run throughout December, ending with its New Year’s Eve release.

What’s the most definitive sign of a show’s success? Its renewal for a second season. Ananya Panday’s Call Me Bae passed that test, right after its September 2024 première. Now, mid-day has learnt that the coming-of-age dramedy’s second instalment will go on floors by November-end.

A source reveals, “Call Me Bae is one of the most successful shows for both Prime Video India and Dharmatic Entertainment. The prep on the second season had begun soon after the show dropped last year. In a few weeks, the cast will face the camera.”

Collin D’Cunha, who helmed the first season, is expected to return to the director’s chair. Much of the original cast, including Gurfateh Pirzada, Vihaan Samat, Muskkan Jaferi, and Niharika Lyra Dutt, will reprise their roles. Sources say that the aim is to amp up the humour and drama, while delving deeper into the theme of sisterhood that became the opening season’s highlight.

“Hashtag Behencode found resonance with the female audience, and the makers want to explore it further. The first part featured a #MeToo track. The upcoming edition too will carry an empowering message, delivered in the show’s signature breezy tone,” says an insider.

Call Me Bae 2 is expected to drop sometime next year.

For the past four years, Mira Nair has been living with the life story of Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil, eager to bring it to the screen. Now, it looks like the acclaimed filmmaker has found her leading lady. While rumours were rife that Ananya Panday was approached for the biopic titled Amri, mid-day has exclusively learnt that Tanya Maniktala has been roped in to play the renowned painter. This will mark Nair’s reunion with the actor, who played the lead in her BBC television drama series A Suitable Boy (2020).

Nair had announced Amri soon after the première of the series. Through the biopic, the filmmaker wants to spotlight the painter, who is counted among the greatest avant-garde women artistes of the early 20th century. In her career that was tragically cut short by her demise in 1941, Sher-Gil captured the everyday life of people in her paintings. While they have influenced generations of Indian artistes, not much about her art is known in the West — something that Nair hopes to change with her period drama. 

A source shares, “Considering the painter was born to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father, Amri will be shot in India and Hungary, and a chunk in France. Last month, the filmmaker met Tanya in Delhi and finalised her. Besides Amrita’s rise as a painter, the film will focus on how her father Umrao Singh Sher-Gil Majithia, her husband Viktor Egan, her fiancé Yusuf Ali Khan, and friend Jawaharlal Nehru influenced her life. In 2023, Mira had approached Naseeruddin Shah, Vicky Kaushal, and Jim Sarbh to play pivotal roles.”

If things go as planned, Nair will take the biopic on floors by the year-end.

In between shots, Ananya Panday often reaches for her journal to pen down her thoughts. The process, she believes, has helped her slow down on chaotic days. Today, on World Mental Health Day, the actor is launching Dear Me, a project that encourages journalling and self-reflection.

“Anyone who knows me knows how much I love journalling. Even now, in between shoots or while travelling, I jot down moments in my journal that make me smile. Inside are photos of my family, my dogs, my friends, little memories I love going back to. With Dear Me, we wanted to create something that captures that same feeling, of slowing down and finding joy in the small moments,” shares the actor.

Panday, in 2019, had launched the online initiative So Positive to battle trolling, cyber bullying, and address mental health challenges in the digital age. She views Dear Me as an extension of the same conversation, just simple habits that help one focus on themselves and shut out the negativity on social media.

“I’ve learned that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Whether it’s therapy, journalling, catching up with friends, or switching off from social media, those small acts make a big difference. We’re so caught up in what’s happening online that we sometimes forget to be present in our own lives. So, a digital detox every now and then is essential; it helps you realign and recharge,” she stresses.

To encourage the habit of slowing down, the actor has curated journals that will be on sale on her So Positive platform. She says a portion of the proceeds will go to the Mumbai-based Rati Foundation. 

“The foundation has been helping victims of online hate crimes through their Meri Trustline initiative. We wanted to help spread the word so that anyone dealing with online abuse knows that this helpline exists,” she adds.

Even as she is batting for healthier online practices, Panday knows there needs to be stricter policies in place to help people feel safe. Ask her what policy changes she’d like to see online, and she says, “It starts with having clear rules and accountability, like age limits for kids, quicker ways to report harmful content, and better tools to spot misinformation.”

In 2024, as part of the So Positive initiative, Ananya Panday launched a podcast of the same name. It has the actor interviewing YouTube stars like Prajakta Koli  and Yashraj Mukhate, focusing on how they prioritize their mental health and tackle social media negativity.

From his unforgettable comic timing as Aakhri Pasta in Housefull to early hits like Tezaab, Apna Sapna Money Money and Aankhen, Chunky Panday has carved a niche in Hindi cinema with a career that has seen many turns. In Manali shooting for his upcoming film Rahu Ketu sometime back, Chunky, in an exclusive conversation with us, talked about his new project, a long-lost film that never released, his experience working on The Royals, and watching the women in his life, wife Bhavana and daughter Ananya steal the spotlight in their own ways.

Chunky spent considerable time shooting in Manali in the early monsoon for his new film Rahu Ketu. Telling us about his time spent there, the actor said that this was his second film shoot in Manali, the first one never being released.

“I came back to Manali after ages to shoot. I had done a film here 35 years ago, and I was so excited to come back here for this film. That film, based on a novel by Shashi Tharoor called Bollywood: Show Business, never released,” recalled the 62 year-old actor.

The actor also shared his experience of shooting Rahu Ketu in Manali. “Manali is beautiful, I’d love to come here in winters when it snows. The weather was perfect then in June-July. It was crowded at that time, but very beautiful. It is sad to see how badly it is affected due to floods. I hope and pray that people there are safe. They were so good to us when we were there.”

Lately, Chunky has been happily soaking in the success of the women in his life. Speaking of his wife Bhavana, who found fame after her stint in Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, he shared, “I was with Bhavana in Paris after the show released. A group foreigners stopped and wanted a photo with her. They were so excited to see her and actually handed me the camera to take a picture of them with her. I was so happy seeing that fandom for her and thought to myself that ‘this is like the ultimate moment’.”

“First I was Chunky Panday, then I became Ananya’s dad and now I’m known as Bhavana’s husband. So I’m loving it. I think I’m enjoying Ananya’s success and whatever success Bhavana is getting now more than I’ve enjoyed my own success. When I was successful, I was too busy working to enjoy it. But this is something I really enjoy. I love being known as Ananya’s father or Bhavana’s husband, it makes me so proud of these women in my life, who have an identity of their own,” said the Don actor.

Speaking of a cherished moment that came from a tribute and not a trophy, the actor shared one of the most emotional moments during an awards function in Mumbai. “The whole theme was fan moments where actors paid tribute to someone they had always admired. Ananya came on stage, did a little number and said she wanted to pay tribute to someone who always made her laugh. I whispered to Bhavana that she’s probably going to call out SRK’s name. But she started the segment with a Neelam song, and I thought maybe it’s for Neelam. But then, she broke into my songs one after the other. I was just stunned with the realization that my daughter was paying a tribute to me,” said the actor.

Seen in the web show The Royals, Chunky again portrayed a flirtatious comic character, one which he has often portrayed on screen. When asked if he views being typecast as limiting he said, “On the contrary, I love to be stereotyped! I’m flattered, in fact. Yes, there definitely is a comfort in playing roles that one can master well. However, I felt so nice doing The Royals. I felt like a star doing it..”

He went on to add, “When I did the character Aakhri Pasta in Housefull, everyone just wanted me to do similar roles. Similarly, when I had done a Nepali character, many people wanted to cast me as a Nepali in their film. It’s very flattering when that one thing clicks. But, I always try to break the image and give a little different taste to the audience. And that’s why in Rahu Ketu, I’m playing a villain.”

Ask if he would change anything about his career trajectory if given a chance, the Tezaab actor shared, “If I went and changed the course of my career, maybe the chances were I would not meet Bhavana, and the chances are that Ananya and Rysa wouldn’t be born. So, I would not want to change anything in my life,” he said.

“I was a very last-moment addition to The Royals. They called me up and asked me two things: ‘are these dates available? And do you know horse-riding?’ And I lied about both,” he chuckled. “I was a horse rider in my first film. But it had been almost 40 years since I got onto a horse. And here I had to play polo with Ishaan Khatter, who had been practicing it for two months. I was surprised that the role fell into my lap. I hope they consider me for a second season as well. My character is a very integral part of the story,” he added.

Shanaya, Suhana, Ananya and Navya

In an industry where relationships often flicker with the arc lights, Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda share a bond that predates their public personas and glamorous debuts. Their friendship isn’t one forged by fame, but one nurtured since childhood — long before red carpets, fan pages, and film offers became part of their vocabulary. They were just little girls then, dressing up in their mothers' saris, mimicking grown-up tea parties and playing make-believe games. From playdates and vacations to stepping into adulthood under a media microscope, these four have grown up together and grown into themselves — with grace and grit, and always cheering for each other.

Ananya made her Bollywood debut first and has since steadily built her career in the film industry. Suhana is a talent waiting to explode, and Shanaya made a fine debut recently. Navya has consciously chosen a path outside showbiz as an entrepreneur and changemaker. But despite their divergent journeys, their bond has remained strong, steady, and refreshingly real.

Talking about their friendship of many years, Ananya says, “We have shared our dreams while growing up, but as much as people think we do, we don't really talk that much about work. We talk about all kinds of things that girls of our age do.”

Ask her what she admires the most about each of her closest friends, and she responds with enthusiasm. “Suhana is very kind and soft-hearted and she gets affected by things very easily. Some people think that ‘sensitive’ is a bad word, but I believe being sensitive is a good quality. As an actor, you need to have sensitivity, and this is Suhana’s huge strength.”

Moving on to Shanaya, who recently made her debut, Ananya adds, “Shanaya is a very strong individual; she can keep going and going, and that’s an admirable quality in her.”

Navya, who chose to stay away from acting despite coming from a legendary film lineage, gets a shoutout too. “Navya is so smart, and she’s found her own path, and that’s amazing. It’s inspiring how she went back to do an MBA. She’s an entrepreneur, has started her own NGO, and has 4-5 businesses running at the same time.”

On a lighter note, we ask Ananya if the four of them were to star in a reality show together twenty years from now, what would it be called, and she bursts into laughter and says, “I don’t know, but we like to call ourselves Charlie's Angels. We actually have a chat group called Ananya's Fans (laughs!). I guess our show could be called Charlie’s Angels.”

This girl gang is a refreshing reminder of the joy of having friends who’ve known you long before the world did.

Ananya, if you were on a road trip with Suhana, Shanaya and Navya, who would take on the following roles:

The Planner: Navya

The Insta Queen: Me

The Adventurer: Shanaya and Navya

The Chiller: Navya and Me

Chunky Panday has had two releases in the last two months with The Royals and Detective Sherdil. In the former, he got to explore a romantic track with actor Sakshi Tanwar. The actor admits that while love stories of the senior generation are rarely made on screen, he feels glad to be a part of one.

Talking about developing chemistry with Sakshi, he says, “I was a little awkward doing romantic scenes, not that there were any love making or hot scenes. I am a fan of Sakshi and her work, and when I got this chance, I jumped at it. But there was a bit of awkwardness because romance is not my cup of tea.”

The 62-year-old adds, “I struggled a bit, but the director, DOP and even the producer were women, so there was a lot of female energy on set and they kind of got that romance out of me. But I admit I’m not good at it.”

The actor reveals that while the audience found his romance sweet, his wife, reality TV star Bhavana Pandey had an unexpected reaction: “People told me I looked sweet, but my wife was laughing when she saw me. She couldn’t imagine me being romantic. She is always critical of my work.”

Chunky got a chance to perform live on stage with daughter (actor) Ananya Panday at a recent award show as she paid a tribute to him. And it was a surprise for him. “She started talking about someone who made her laugh since she was a child. So, I thought she was talking maybe (actor) Shah Rukh Khan. Then she burst into a (actor) Neelam song from one of my films, so I thought maybe she’s doing a tribute to Neelam. Then suddenly it turned into all my songs, and I got so excited. For me that was like a lifetime achievement award,” Chunky ends.

Ananya Panday has navigated fame, criticism, and personal evolution in the public eye. Starting out at 18, today, she’s no longer just the industry’s young entrant — she’s a voice for Gen Z battling the complexities of stardom, social media, and self-worth. In this honest, light-hearted, yet meaningful conversation on Bombay Times Lounge, Ananya talks about the weight and pride of legacy, the nuances of modern relationships and why she’s finally free of the fear of being judged. Over to her...

At the start, I was very eager to please everyone. Even now I am, and I hope that people like me, but I don’t feel the pressure. Earlier, I would take a lot of effort to make everyone happy at the risk of not being myself. I am not scared of judgment anymore, because too much has happened for me to be scared of that. I think I am a lot more comfortable in my skin now.

The people around me keep me grounded. In the beginning, I used to think that if I said something, for instance, in an interview, then things would change. But I realized it doesn’t function like that, and only your work really speaks for everything. People will only come and pay their hard-earned money to watch you if they like your work and if they like you as a person.

Honestly, by the time I was born, my dad wasn’t acting that much, and he wasn’t getting too much work. It wasn’t like my parents were discussing it or aisa kuch chal raha tha ki ghar mein kuch problems hai, because my dad always kept doing something, even if he wasn’t on a film set. But while growing up, I sensed the way people reacted to my friends’ parents who were actors versus my dad. So, I would be like, ‘Oh, maybe there’s something different.’ Maybe in my subconscious, it was there. I learned to appreciate and value what I have in the moment and to also give it my best because you’re not going to keep getting chances. You have only one shot at it really.

I’ve always been the kind of person to acknowledge my privilege. Even when I went on Koffee With Karan for the first time, I said that I know that I’m privileged. I know that there are probably people out there who are more talented, better looking and more hardworking than I am. But now I’ve got this opportunity, and I don’t want to waste it, as this has also been my dream since I was a child. So, I’ve taken the shame out of being privileged and I look at it with a sense of pride. My father was a child of two doctors, and his dream was to become an actor, and he became one. He’s worked for 40-plus years, and if I can carry forward his legacy and make him proud, it will be a very big achievement for me. I don’t want to not be known as Chunky Pandey’s daughter. I’m so proud that he’s my father. I don’t want to look at it as a negative thing anymore because people will always have something to say.

There are days when I feel bogged down, when I read some comment or thread online that’s untrue, I kind of spiral. At the start, I would get really emotional and want to come out and say something. Over time, I think I have developed a thick skin, but at the end of the day, I’m human and I do feel bad. So, I would just say: feel whatever you’re feeling. If someone tells you not to cry, don’t listen to them. It’s okay to have days where you’re crying and you are angry and want to let it out. Bottling it up only makes it worse.

Yes, it happens. I think you make excuses for people, and you think that things will change. That happens with me where I change myself a lot for the person I am with – like I start watching the films he likes or if he dresses a certain way, I start dressing like that, which is not good. Again, it comes from that people-pleasing personality trait that I have. You should actually be yourself, and your partner should accept you for who you are. For me, the biggest red flags are the obvious ones – like cheating, lying, disrespecting you in public and all of that. I think someone who can’t be happy for you when you are doing well is a big red flag, especially for successful women. I also feel bad for men because they are often put under this societal pressure that they need to be a certain way. So, given this societal construct, a lot of people can’t fully be what they want to be and who they want to be.

Ask her about the kind influence Shah Rukh Khan has had in her life, as she’s seen him closely since her childhood days, and she says, “I think the way Shah Rukh Khan handles his personal and professional life -- there’s no one like him. While growing up, I saw first-hand what an amazing father he is to Aryan, Suhana and AbRam and the way he’s been with all of us. He would train us all for our sports day and taekwondo competitions. He was very, very present in what was happening in our lives. Even now, he wants to know what we’re doing and is very involved. Also, when he is talking to you, he has this quality of making you feel that you are the only person in the world. There is no one like him!

Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday are currently filming an extensive schedule of Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri in Croatia. Director Sameer Vidwans kicked off the romantic drama in the European country last month after Aaryan filmed a chunk of his yet-untitled next with Anurag Basu, and Panday wrapped up Chand Mera Dil. The unit will be in Croatia for the next two weeks, filming outdoor sequences and some songs. 

“The team has been shooting across different parts of Croatia, including in Vis. The shoot on the island was a bit tricky as a group kept clicking Kartik and Ananya’s pictures despite being told not to. The production team has been told to ensure that bits from the shoot don’t make their way online,” says a source.

After the Croatia leg ends by mid-June, the team will shoot the remaining portions, primarily emotional scenes, in Mumbai. The unit hopes to wrap the romantic drama by July-end.

Next on Bombay Times Lounge, we have Ananya Panday, the actress who reigns the Gen-Z glam brigade with rizz and charm. She’s the girl who’s not afraid to keep it real — onscreen, on the ‘gram, or in interviews. She adds a dash of fun and spark to everything she does, and there’s no mistaking she’s carved her spot in tinsel town, and she’s owning it with style.During our chat, she had the audience charmed and hooked from the word go. Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s coming up soon on the full episode, which will drop on the Bombay Times YouTube Channel.

Ananya, who has won love and admiration for her recent roles in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Kesari Chapter 2 and the web series Call Me Bae, admits that in the beginning, her perspective of cinema, was in a way limited, and her priorities different.

“I always wanted to be an actress. I don’t know if other people believed me or thought whether I could be one. When I started out, the kind of cinema that I had watched until then was very different. I was, and I still am a full-on Bollywood bachcha. Earlier, I only knew there’s one way of acting and one kind of movie. My vision was very microscopic and when I started acting, I was just happy that I was on the big screen. I was singing, dancing and doing all those things that I’ve seen growing up. But with more films and more roles, now I’ve fallen in love with the craft of acting,” she says.

“Now, I enjoy going deeper a lot more. I want to challenge myself. People keep differentiating between commercial cinema and offbeat cinema. I think both are equally tough. People tell me, 'Oh, you have done a film like Kesari Chapter 2, it must have been so challenging',” says Ananya.

She adds, “Even commercial cinema with all the singing, lip-syncing, dancing, and the look of being in love with those glossy eyes – all of that is also a form of acting. It requires as much effort, if not more. It took me time to get comfortable in my space. In my first few films, I was very nervous. I would just do whatever the director asked me to. Gehraiyaan, changed that, it was like a turning point.”

It’s no secret that Ananya is part of B-Town’s coolest girl gang — with Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda. Her face lights up as she talks about her besties – their bond and shared dreams.

She recalls, “We’ve been acting in our own way since we were kids. We would play this game called Ad-Ad where one person would be the judge, and the rest of us had to create an ad for a product and present it to the judge. We played this for years. We would spy on our moms and see what they’re doing at their tea party and then come back and imitate them. When I look at some of those videos now, I am like…what were we doing? We all shared our dreams.”

Seeing her friends chase their paths fills her with pride. “It felt surreal seeing Suhana in The Archies, Shanaya is soon going to make her debut. It’s admirable how Navya has turned an entrepreneur and has chosen her own path.”

I am a romantic at heart and I love everything about love. I believe in 90s kind of love, not the running away from home and all that, but more like pyaar dosti hai and that one person is your everything. I’m quite a hopeless romantic!

“I was going to say good looks, good looks, good looks! (laughs). On a serious note, I’d say someone who is very funny. I need to be laughing all the time because my dad (Chunky Panday) has always made me laugh. Someone who can be a friend and a great companion above everything else, because I believe pyaar dosti hai, however, cliche it sounds. And a man who treats everyone equally and with respect. Good looks can come in fourth! (laughs)”

Where are the rom-coms? That has been a frequent question asked by Hindi cinema fans in the past few years. It’s something Ananya Panday too was missing being part of. Which explains her next two offerings — Chand Mera Dil opposite Lakshya, and the second season of her popular series Call Me Bae.

“We’ll shoot Call Me Bae’s second season soon. I just wrapped a chunk of Chand Mera Dil, which is an out-and-out romantic film. I’ve done films in a cutesy space, but never featured in a dramatic love story,” she tells us.

With director Vivek Soni’s romantic drama and the Amazon Prime Video series, Panday is consciously gravitating towards stories that exude warmth and comfort. Her reason is simple — we can all do with a dose of joy.

She says, “Bae could have been easily classified as an entitled character, but I wanted people to connect with her. She is a mood-booster, when so much of the content right now is action. We underestimate the value of feel-good cinema. Playing Bae was healing for me in ways I didn’t expect. I want my films to make the audience feel the same kind of calm, joy, and reassurance that the character gave me.”

The actor started out with the mainstream campus caper, Student Of The Year 2 (2019). Six years and several acclaimed films later, her criteria for choosing projects are clear today.

“I don’t want to be part of something because I feel it will be a box-office hit. I have to see an opportunity there as an actor. Also, the older I’m getting, the more I feel the responsibility of making decisions. Every time I watch a movie, I buy into it strongly. So, I know the direct impact that cinema has on people. That’s why I have to be part of films that morally align with me. That doesn’t mean I won’t play an evil character, but the [messaging] should be morally correct.”

Playing rooted characters in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) and CTRL (2024) has made young women identify with her. Mention this, and Panday squeals with joy, “I am a girl’s girl. As a young girl, I [remember] how much I used to admire Kareena [Kapoor Khan] and Alia [Bhatt]. When someone tells me that their daughter loves me, it makes me the happiest.”

In a moment that sparked widespread concern, Babil Khan, son of late actor Irrfan, posted a series of emotional videos on Instagram Stories on Saturday. The now-deleted clips made their way to Reddit, showing him opening up about his experience in the entertainment industry.

“Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I’ve ever ever been a part of. But there are few people that want Bollywood to be better... I got to show to you so much more, so much more, so much more. I have so much more to give you,” the 26-year-old can be heard saying.

In another video, he mentioned some of his contemporaries: “I just want you guys to know that there are people like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav and Arijit Singh. There are so many more names. Bollywood is so f*****.”

Even as he deleted and later reinstated his profile with 1.2M followers, several celebs came out to lend support (see right), with actor Harshvardhan Rane advising him to “stay away from parties”.

Filmmaker Sai Rajesh shared a lengthy note on Instagram criticizing the outburst and subsequent statement: “It feels like only those whose names were mentioned in his video deserve respect — and the rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while? ...I genuinely wanted to stand by him even until an hour ago. But if you’re taking us for granted, that stops here. These sympathy games won’t work on us anymore. A sincere apology is the least you owe us.”

Babil replied, claiming Sai “really broke my heart”: “After everything I’ve given to you... Complete physical atrocity to my body just so I can do justice to his character, I gave him my soul, rejected everything that came in my way for 2 years, anything and everything he needed for 500 days of my life.”

He added, “Man, I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character. I gave him my laughter while I held back my tears. I slit my f****** wrist for him.”

Babil is reported to star in the remake of Sai’s  Telugu film Baby (2023). Babil later deleted his comments and Sai, his post.

On Sunday, Babil’s team issued a statement: “Babil has earned immense love and appreciation for his work, as well as for his openness about his mental health journey. Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days, and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon. That said, a video of Babil has been widely misinterpreted and taken out of context.”

The note further read, “In the clip, Babil was sincerely acknowledging a few of his peers whom he believes are making meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. His mention... came from a place of genuine admiration for their authenticity, passion, and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.”

In a recent interview, Nushrratt Bharrucha spoke about being replaced by Ananya Panday in Dream Girl 2 (2023) and admitted that she was hurt by the move.

The actress, who had featured in Dream Girl (2019), said, “It hurt me even more when I was not a part of my own sequel. Every other actor was the same, except the girl, which I felt was not cool na, guys? Theek hai, no problem. I can’t fight something I know is not going to change. What do I fight? They’ll say, ‘We don’t want you.’ That’s the truth of it. Eventually, it’s a choice somebody’s making. I cannot question your choice.”

When we reached out to the director, Raaj Shaandilyaa, he presented his explanation for choosing Ananya for the film.

Talking about why certain cast members, including Ayushmann Khurrana, Manjot Singh and Annu Kapoor, were repeated in Dream Girl 2, Raaj Shaandilyaa said, “Dream Girl 2 was not a sequel, but a franchise film. If it were a sequel, then Nushrratt would have been cast in the film. Dream Girl’s story ended when Ayushmann and Nushrratt’s characters united. We wanted to narrate a different story, and so we took the plot ahead with the core characters played by Ayushmann, Manjot and Annu Kapoor, and we cast Ananya in it.”

Ask him if Nushrratt ever expressed her disappointment, and he said, “Nushrratt once asked me why she wasn’t a part of Dream Girl 2, and I gave her the same explanation. I told her that according to the story, we wanted a new girl.”

He added, “There’s no room for disappointment because jab hum third part banayenge, we’ll cast a new girl in it. Usme Ananya nahi hogi, koi aur hogi.”

Raaj also says that he wishes to do more films with Nushrratt, who is a “dear friend,” and so, they should put all of this behind them and move on. “I am producing a new film and approaching Nushrratt for it. I enjoy working with her. I would just like to tell her that purani baatein chhodo, next film ki taiyyari karte hai. I think an actor should be prepared to deal with all this because our industry is like this, where stories and characters keep changing. You won’t know ki end moment tak kya hoga… sometimes we face date issues, sometimes the commercials don’t work out. Ab purani baatein chhodo, aage badhte hai.”

Almost six years after making her Bollywood debut with Student Of The Year 2 (2019), Ananya Panday is college-bound again thanks to producer Karan Johar. Last November, the filmmaker announced Chand Mera Dil, featuring Panday and Lakshya. After a bit of digging, we have learnt that Vivek Soni’s directorial venture is a college romance centred on engineering students. The director will call action on the project later this week.

A source tells us, “For the past three months, the film, which sees Ananya and Lakshya play engineering students, was in pre-production. Vivek will take it on floors on March 15. The first schedule will take place in Pune, where the team has zeroed in on a leading college where most of the campus portions will be shot.”

This marks Soni’s third collaboration with Johar’s banner, after Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021) and the upcoming Aap Jaisa Koi.

Another source says, “Vivek brings a fresh voice to relationship dramas. With Meenakshi Sundareshwar, he explored a long-distance marriage, and Aap Jaisa Koi will be a take on age-gap romance. With Chand Mera Dil, he attempts to understand what loves means to today’s youth.”