As told to Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 15, 2020)

Three years ago, I had to audition for Student Of The Year 2, which took place a day after Holi. I couldn’t celebrate the festival as I was afraid to get colour on my face which may not have come off the next day. After the audition, I was in touch with Punit (Malhotra, director), but he never told me explicitly if I made it or not. Naturally, I was nervous and didn’t know what to do. At the same time, I got into college and was conflicted if I should go for it or not.

In July, Karan (Johar, SOTY 2 producer) called me to his office, sat me down, told me I was a part of the film and welcomed me to his (film) family. I first thought I was dreaming and someone was going to wake me up. It was such a big moment for me because it had been a lifelong dream to be a part of that iconic family. Everything I had dreamed and asked for was finally happening.

My first day on the set was two years ago, on April 7. Punit took me and Tara (Sutaria, fellow debutante) to Mussoorie (where the film was shot) a few days earlier than everyone else. It was our first film and he wanted us to ease into it instead of feeling ambushed on the film’s set. Our first shot was supposed to be for the song “Jatt Ludhiyane Da”. Punit had individually promised the three of us (leading man Tiger Shroff, Tara and her) that all our first shots will be solo so that each one of us gets to savour it.

Tiger’s was a dance step, while Tara got a beauty shot. When it was my turn, it started raining. I got upset, thinking I wouldn’t get to shoot, and that my first day was ruined. Everybody got to do their scene except me. Luckily, Punit changed mine into an indoor shot so everything worked out.

For the scene, I was supposed to climb down a flight of stairs while recording myself, singing, on a phone. My mom (Bhavana Panday) and Manish (Malhotra, designer and family friend) were there, and that made it really special for me. Manish has been there for a lot of actresses’ first shot. I just felt elated to be a part of that iconic list.

IN FINE FORM: For the Filmfare curtain raiser in early February, we wanted to go with a sexy vibe with finesse. The pink taffeta bow on this thick crepe number was eye-catching

As told to Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 9, 2020)

Bhavana (Panday, Ananya’s mother), called us up seven months before her first film (Student Of The Year 2) was to release. She asked us to style Ananya for the film promotions, but before that she wanted us to meet and build a relationship. The first time we worked together was for the Bachchans’ Diwali party in 2018. We gave Ananya a beautiful Sabyasachi lehenga. She is a complete clothes horse and looked dazzling. Since she had started out at 19, we could foresee us building on her style trajectory. Together, we have done some amazing looks that are inspiring for young girls in India. It is exciting to see us evolving and taking Ananya to different heights in the coming years.

As a fun, perky person with an amazing sense of humour, she naturally gravitates towards pop colours. We also like to add elements that vibe with her personality, like frills, ruffles, pop colours and short looks. Even if it is a pant-suit, instead of being severe and dark-toned, it can be printed or in a bright colour, it can have a crop-top inside or worn with sneakers.

Ananya looks her best in short skirts and crop tops but sometimes, she takes us by surprise. For instance, we gave her a cream blazer with cropped pants and a bandeau for the promotions of Pati Patni Aur Woh. We weren’t sure if she would look nice in this elevated pant-suit with an edgy twist; she wasn’t ready for it either. But it turned out to be one of her best looks.

We make Ananya stand out by projecting her persona. Every person has an individuality and expressing that is the best way to create a standout look. It also depends on the event; we try to stick to the brief but at the same time, interpret it in an Ananya way without going too off-beat and still making sure that she looks 21. We have some surprises up our sleeves that you will see over time. There are certain silhouettes that she is going to be wearing in the future. We would like to try print-onprint or layering in new and interesting ways. As stylists, we don’t see Ananya as too skinny; her limbs are beautifully proportioned. None of us take trolls seriously. The idea is to always try and create an impact.


PROM QUEEN: This fresh-off-the-runway dress was for the Femina Beauty Awards. The handmade outfit has a lot of metal-wire detailing


LAYERING LOVE: People usually layer on a bustier but for this outfit, which Ananya wore for a TV interview in December last year, we did an apron layering on the skirt. It really caught on

RUFFLE EFFECT: For the Filmfare Style Awards in December 2019, we went with a fitted black leather dress with a pink ruffle. Since this was her first style award, we decided against a predictable gown. It was interesting as everyone else wore long dresses

TULLE PERFECTION: Since Ananya is going to be wearing gowns for the rest of her life, we decided to go down a different route for the Filmfare Awards. Tulle is young and refreshing and the colour vibrant. A skirt with a bra-top is different from what people usually wear on the red-carpet



STRIKING GOLD: Ananya wore this for one of Armaan Jain and Anissa Malhotra wedding events. Because it was a head-to-toe gold-and-lace look, we went light on the styling. There were no earrings, just a simple choker and gold bangles

ON THE EDGE: This is one of her standout looks. It is an elevated pantsuit with an edgy twist—a cream blazer paired with cropped pants (almost the length of cycling shorts) and a bandeau

IN FINE FORM: For the Filmfare curtain raiser in early February, we wanted to go with a sexy vibe with finesse. The pink taffeta bow on this thick crepe number was eye-catching

Ananya Panday on first Filmfare win, pairing up with Vijay Deverakonda and collaborating with Deepika Padukone
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 25, 2020)

Ananya Panday, who recently picked up the Filmfare Award for Best Debutante (Female) for Student Of The Year 2, has started shooting for the action-packed Fighter, which marks the Bollywood debut of Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda. Admittedly excited about this “massy and dramatic” film which will release in five languages, she describes it as “an out-and-out Puri Jagannadh project”. “My character is quite like the real me. I think young girls will be able to relate to her cute, funny and charming personality. I am working on my Telugu too, learning a few words every day on the set. I will try to dub for myself in as many languages as possible,” she informs.

Her co-star had reportedly flown to Thailand to learn Mixed Martial Arts; however, the 21-year-old actress refuses to reveal if she will be seen doing action too. For now, she is just happy to work with the Arjun Reddy actor who, she asserts, was “absolutely brilliant” in the Telugu hit which was remade in Hindi as Kabir Singh last year and widely criticised for its misogynistic theme. Ask Ananya if she has discussed this with Vijay and she quips, “No, I haven’t, I thought he acted very well. Besides, portraying a certain character doesn’t mean you are that person in real life. Vijay is kind, smart, wellspoken and knows how to hold a conversation.”

After wrapping up the ongoing schedule of Fighter, Ananya will shoot for the final leg of Khaali Peeli with Ishaan Khatter, before kicking off Shakun Batra’s next in March. The urban love story also features Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi. “We started doing readings for his film a month ago. Prep is top priority for Shakun and that is one of my favourite things about him. I also love the way he handles relationships on screen; he makes it look so believable,” she gushes, adding that working with Gully Boy’s MC Sher is “fun” and describes her onscreen equation with Deepika as “interesting”. “She is a huge star but one of the most normal people I have met. I have known Siddhant before we signed the film and I am excited to see him in a completely different character. We start shooting in Mumbai.”

Hot off her Filmfare win in Guwahati on February 15, Ananya confides she’s been practising her acceptance speech in front of the mirror with a water bottle for a mic since she was five. “I had practiced it so many times, but when I went on stage I forgot everything. Winning a Filmfare Black Lady is a big deal for me. My mom (Bhavana Panday) was there with me and how I wished dad (Chunky Panday) was there, too. But I gave the trophy to him when I reached home,” she says, adding that her actor-father suggested she keep it in the living room, “so the family could look at it the whole day”.

Buzz is, Chunky has been offered the role of her reel-life father in one of her upcoming projects. “I heard this too, but nothing is confirmed yet,” Ananya signs off in a rush.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 1, 2019)

In the 80s and 90s, the audience saw him lip-synching the classic, So Gaya Yeh Jahan from Tezaab (1988) and matching Govinda move-fora-move in Aankhen (1993). Chunky Panday, who returned to the lives of cinegoers with characters like Aakhri Pasta in Housefull (2010), is now juggling his schedule between multiple films, two of which present him as a villain. While it may not be easy to laugh at oneself, it’s an art that he has mastered and is gradually passing on the tricks to his 20-year-old daughter Ananya, who made her debut this year with Student Of The Year 2. In a chat with BT, Chunky discusses his current phase in the industry, his daughter’s acting career and what his mistakes have taught him. Excerpts…

Your new innings as an actor is in full force with films like Prassthanam, Jawani Jaaneman and Housefull 4, where you play diametrically different characters. Is this the most satisfying time of your professional life?
Yes, it is. I am also doing a Marathi film called Bhangarwala in which I play an Arab; after seeing that, I don’t think they will let me enter Dubai (laughs!). Before this, the only regional cinema I had tried was Bangladeshi (laughs even more), which means I’ve also done Bengali films.

I’ve been a great fan of Pran, Mehmood, Amjad Khan, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Amrish Puri. I can’t ever dream of coming close to these guys and the characters they’ve immortalised. Deva Katta, who made the original Prassthanam, felt that I could play the grey character in his story. I’ve just tried to remember the masters of such characters in Indian cinema while playing this one, with the hope that I, too, can achieve that glory.

Given that you are being offered performance-driven parts now, would you say that you’re finally coming into your own?
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that. We are actually living in the golden phase of this craft. Today, newer platforms have opened up avenues for actors. If you realise, I haven’t done much work in about 30 years as an actor. I may have 94 films to my credit, but only about 75 have been released. I am less exposed and also lucky to get the characters I have today. Also, people didn’t ever forget me entirely. I guess I stayed at the back of their minds. The second innings started with characters like Aakhri Pasta and that Nepali guy in Apna Sapna Money Money (2006). The intention was to impress the younger audience. The subsequent characters, like the ones in Begum Jaan (2017) and Prassthanam, are bonuses. I would like to believe what my wife Bhavana often says when we fight. She says, ‘There is a little devil hiding in you and you are evil personified.’ That’s a statement every wife makes when the couple fights, but I took it a tad bit seriously and decided to prove her right (Laughs!). My wife was petrified to see my look in Begum Jaan. Ananya was taken aback, but impressed. Doing negative characters had some impact at home. My younger daughter (Rysa) and wife didn’t talk to me for days after Begum Jaan released. I played a devilish guy who feeds dogs to people, while at home, I am a dog lover. When I grew a beard for that part, my daughters refused to come close to me, because I wore this weird look on my face, unlike the daddy they knew. And my wife? She refused to kiss my cheeks or hug me. So, coming into my own has not been easy.

How has this new phase changed you as an actor?
It’s made me a lot more confident, but I would say that the directors, too, had a huge role to play. To do Prassthanam and Housefull 4 in the same year is a big deal for me. I was stepping into the comedy franchise, which is almost like home to me, after doing two badass characters. The after-effect of playing those parts was that I was finding it hard to slip into Aakhri Pasta (his character in Housefull 4). The transition between roles was a challenge. Your mind tends to get confused, and you need the director’s support. I am not the greatest actor on earth, and I depend a lot on my director. Even for Prassthanam, I depended a lot on Deva Katta. If left to me, I will do the same navrasas in every film. I can trust the actor in me, but I need a chance to show something new every time. That new thing is the director’s take on the character. I always ask for that.

Jackie Shroff, Gulshan Grover, Sanjay Dutt — a bunch of your colleagues from the 1980s and 1990s — seem to have a better repertoire today than you did. As a leading man in the 1990s, why did you drop out of the scene, that, too, soon after a hit like Aankhen?
I had no option. I arrived on the scene in 1987. Govinda had come a year earlier, and in quick succession, we had Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn. There was one new face every year. My honeymoon got over in no time with so many heroes arriving on the scene. My solo-hero films did average business, but the multi-starrers did very well. In this industry, you should never underestimate or overestimate anyone. When I went to Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s wedding reception, I met filmmaker Shankar. He remembered me instantly, but it took me a while to recall that he was assisting a South filmmaker on Jai Shiv Shankar — a film I did for Rajesh Khanna’s company, which never released. Imagine, Shankar was an assistant on that film! So, you cannot discount anyone. I have seen things change overnight for people, from good to bad and terrible to great. I always feel that one should maintain a balance with people. Don’t write them off and don’t chase them crazily.

But didn’t you get almost written off when you decided to work in Bangladeshi films?
It was a phase of a meltdown. I was thinking of switching careers. I had the biggest hit in the country, Aankhen, to my name but I didn’t get much work after that. I moved to Bangladeshi films and kept doing films there because they worked. I was just running away from myself. I somehow wanted to continue being an actor, because if I didn’t, then I would have to find an alternate profession. It was Bhavna who got me back here. She told me that even in Bangladesh, people know me as Chunky from Bollywood. Filmmaker Harry Baweja gave me my first role during that phase in Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003). Things changed from there. There are times when you ask yourself why certain things happened and what went wrong. I think I made a lot of good choices, but I also made many mistakes; I was meant to make them. For instance, I left Tridev (1989) for another film. Everyone makes mistakes and learns from them. Today, if I get a great character, I do it, no matter what. I wish I was as wise a few years ago. It took me some soul searching and introspection to be like this. I was getting characters even back then, but my mind was not ready for them. Today, I am thick-skinned, and I have no ego. I change my colours like a chameleon, and I can laugh at myself. That makes life easier for an actor.

Isn’t it strange that when you decided to come back, the work didn’t really come from the friends who you often hang out with?
It didn’t come from friends because I have never depended on them to give me work and I don’t like bringing work between us.

While you are clearly enjoying your second innings, your daughter Ananya has started her career…
I am damn excited for her. I was also scared about that at one point. The most important thing for any actor is to be accepted by the audience. I’ve always told this to Ananya because there’s just that much advice I can dole out. She’ll have to figure her way through this on her own, making her own choices and her own mistakes. I’ve always told her that no one can ever predict the box-office success of a film, because a billion people decide that. I stopped worrying when I saw Student Of The Year 2 at a private screening. Bhavna and I were sure she would find acceptance. There’s no harm in being excited and optimistic, but one should never get carried away.

Ananya has entered the industry at a time when actors have to face pressure beyond box-office performance of their films. Social media pressure is a major aspect today...
Yes, the golden phase of show-business has its own perils. I’m proud of my daughter’s initiative to fight social media bullying instead of giving in to it. It’s a nasty thing that affects so many people. Someone had to bell the cat and Ananya has taken the lead. She’s 20 and doing something brave for her age. Today, I just hope that she enjoys everything she does. She did well academically, but she’s learning things now, and things that will help her survive in an industry like ours. She did her formal training in acting, but no university can teach you things that Bollywood can. And trust me, it teaches you too many lessons very quickly.

Link-ups with co-actors happened in the 1990s, and they happen even today. Within six months of her debut, Ananya has already faced such a situation...
Yes, she got linked very early on in her career, but as they say, you live and die by the sword. It happened then and it happens now. You can’t control it, whether you’re married or single. I only tell her to take it in her stride, what else can I advise her on this? Even as an actor, when she asks me my opinion on her scripts, I don’t say much, because I want her to make her decisions and stand by those, forever.

Chunky Pandey on Ananya, working with Prabhas and Rana Daggubati and affinity for villainy
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2019)

Chunky Pandey is quite pleased with the way he has approached the character of Don Kaali in his next, Prassthanam, which is the Hindi remake of the eponymous Telugu original. More so because he was told not to watch the film, which allowed him to interpret the character in his own way. He even had an idea in mind for his look as soon as Deva Katta (the original’s director who is also helming the remake) finished the narration. “I hate to say it, but I am not original. I modelled the look after Guy Pearce’s in Lawless. I always wanted to wear glasses and look unreadable, which was perfect for this film,” he shares.

At the same time, the actor is not exactly in love with Don Kaali’s characteristics. “He is a kingmaker, an opportunist and quite the slime ball,” Chunky states, quickly switching gears, as he goes on to equate shooting for the film (with Sanjay Dutt, Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff in Lucknow) with time-travel. “Sanjay and I get along like a house on fire. Young kids like Ali (Fazal), Satyajeet (Dubey) and Amyra (Dastur) were amused to see us behave like kids on the set,” he laughs, adding, “The part that scares me the most is... (whispers) we haven’t changed at all; we are wild. We have that streak that the newcomers lack.”

In a stark contrast to Prassthanam, shooting for Sujeeth’s Saaho required Chunky to isolate himself to channel the evil. “Most of the characters in the film are grey but my guy is black. I was in a bad mood throughout the shoot. I wouldn’t interact much with anyone and since I was holed up inside Ramoji Film City, it was easy to play this horrible character,” he recalls.

After focussing on comedy for most of his career, the actor seems to be enjoying playing the baddie. “I’ve been a huge fan of Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan and Shakti Kapoor. It is so much more interesting than the hero’s role,” he insists. Ask him if he regrets not playing negative characters in the 1990s and he remarks, “I didn’t look like a villain in those days. Now, whenever I get into an argument with my wife, she keeps telling me, ‘You’re a real-life villain. Why don’t you play one on screen?’ I started doing these roles to win the argument,” laughs Chunky. In his second innings, Chunky is taken up by how organised film sets are now. “We never had scripts. Films were made on the sets. I still don’t read a script and tell them to explain the role. Why should I know what the others are doing?” he reasons. Point out that with Housefull 4, Saaho and Prassthanam, he will have three releases this year, and Chunky quips, “This is my Bahubali year,” referring to the fact that he has worked with the hit franchise’s hero, Prabhas, in Saaho and its antagonist, Rana Daggubati, in Housefull 4.

The advent of social media has revolutionised the concept of fan interaction and Chunky feels it’s a mixed bag. “Back in the ’80s-’90s, we’d do stage shows, the only way we could witness public reaction. Now, everyone has become a critic. I am used to it now and I am trying to teach the same to my daughter (Ananya); at their age bullying is rampant,” he shares, adding that as a father, it was difficult to let his little girl work. “Ananya had been a part of the industry socially but to work in it is a different ballgame altogether. That said, Bhavana (wife) has brought her up well and she’s equipped to be a good employee.”

The assurance still gave way to anxiety every now and then, especially before Ananya’s debut, Student of the Year 2, hit the marquee. “I’d see her return home depressed sometimes but I let her be. When I saw the film’s trial show, I was sure she would make it,” he smiles.

Ananya was recently quoted as saying that she tries to “behave like a normal teenager”. Ask Chunky about his own wonder years and he chuckles, “I was wild; my daughter is nothing compared to me. I had a lot of wrong pressures on me. Being the son of two doctors, I was expected to become one too.”

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 6, 2019)

Chunky Panday and Neelam Kothari, the hit pair of the ’90s, are reuniting after 18 years post their last appearance together in Kasam in 2001, but for the small screen. The duo will battle it out in an episode of Kitchen Champions to win the prize. They shot their episode on Saturday.

Neelam, when contacted confirmed to Mirror, “Yes we appeared on the show, and it was a lot of fun. I haven’t done anything in a long time, I’ve been shying away from the camera though there have been a lot of offers. Chunky is a co-star and a friend and he had made his debut in a film with me (Aag Hi Aag in 1987), at that time I was considered a lucky charm.” Speaking about her cooking skills she adds, “I enjoy cooking occasionally but if it’s a daily chore then I would hate it.”

Chunky told us, “Neelam is a dear friend of Bhavana’s (Chunky’s wife). I don’t know what her cooking talents are, but I am sharpening my skills for the face-off. We have always been a winning combination but in the kitchen I’m good at making ice cubes and scrambled eggs though as a kid I was a great baker. Sometimes I still bake with my daughter Rysa.”

The duo also performed on their hit song “Main Tera Tota, Tu Meri Maina” from Paap Ki Duniya. Neelam also danced on “Main Se Meena Se” from Khudgarz with host Arjun Bijlani. 

Ananya Panday, Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria in Student Of The Year 2

Chunky Panday on sending off his daughter to ‘high school’
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 19, 2018)

Nineteen-year-old Ananya Panday has kicked off her Bollywood debut, Student Of The Year 2 with Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria, and dad Chunky couldn’t be prouder. “I speak to Ananya every now and then. Bhavna (wife) had gone there for a couple of days to get her settled in. She is in high school (in the film) now so parents are not allowed but I’m sure she’s enjoying herself. I’d love to see her in action. Maybe I will sneak in when the team is shooting in Mumbai,” Chunky told Mirror.

The 55-year-old actor admits that he misses his daughter. “I got emotional when she left but then I told myself that she’s going away to college and will be away for a couple of months. That’s how I’m looking at it,” he explains. He was recently quoted as saying that Ananya, a brilliant student, had enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles and New York University, but since the movie was in the pipeline, they decided to delay her admission by a year.

With the youngster sharing screen time with another debutante, Tara, were there any apprehensions? “There were two girls in the story right from the outset and I’m sure they will complement each other. All three (Tiger, Ananya, Tara) look cute together,” Chunky says, adding that he and Bhavna are in “parental bliss” now. “Incidentally, my younger daughter Rysa is in Jordan to represent her school at an athletics competition,” he adds. Meanwhile, Chunky has finished his first Marathi film, Bangarwala, the Prabhas-starrer Saaho is almost complete and Housefull 4 starts in August.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 9, 2017)

In the next two years, there will be a whole bunch of young star kids who will step on to the silver screen. While Shahid Kapoor’s brother Ishaan has already made his debut with Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds and is now shooting for Dhadak, Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi is all set for a grand launch opposite him. Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s daughter Sara Ali Khan, too, is currently shooting for Kedarnath, which will mark her foray into Bollywood. Along with them, another young lady — Chunky and Bhavana Panday’s daughter Ananya — is already a star on social media. The 19-year-old was recently spotted at the grand le Bal, Paris, which is an annual charity fashion event that brings together several promising newcomers from across the globe.

Bhavana spoke to After Hrs about the event, how her daughter is gearing up for Bollywood, and why she feels the younger crop of actors is refreshingly different. Over to her...

Ananya looked stunning at the le Bal this year. How did everything fall into place?
We got an email from Ophelie Renouard, the CEO of le Bal. I wasn’t aware of their criteria for selection. So, I was a bit surprised. Usually, there’s always a phone call when someone invites you. But this was just a mail that came to me. It had Ophelie’s number, so I called her and took all the details. Chunky, me, our younger daughter Rysa, and our nephew Ahaan accompanied Ananya to Paris. 

How was the experience?
It was just like a fairytale for her. It was so beautifully organised and the girls were literally treated like modern-day princesses. 

Ananya has a lot of spark...
I hope she lives up to everyone’s expectations. I want all the kids to do well, but you obviously want the best for your child.

Did she always aspire to become an actress?
Yes. But when you are young, you only think of funny professions and they keep changing. As you grow up, you tend to be whomsoever you look up to. Earlier, Ananya wanted to become a ballerina but post 13-14, she has only spoken about becoming an actress. When she expressed that to us, we were happy with her decision. 

Has she already started prepping up?
No, post her graduation from school, she has taken a one-year gap. She wants to join either New York University or the University of Southern California. During this one-year break, she’s training in dancing, a little bit of Hindi diction and acting. Her intense training will start only once she has signed a film and on the basis of the character she’s playing. 

Do you want her to complete her education before she becomes an actress?
I would have loved it if she finished her college. Today, you have to be well read and educated. But I also feel that if you are spending a few years learning some subject, it has to be in context to the profession you want to follow. I think a lot of that education in her life will happen now towards the career she wants to pursue. It will be an organic learning. Besides that, she’s a bright girl and an avid reader. We have only deferred her admission by a year. It’s not that she won’t be completing her education.

Sridevi said that she was shocked when Janhvi told her she wanted to act in films. What was your first reaction?
It wasn’t a sudden decision for Ananya. It happened organically over a year. Obviously, we had many discussions and debates about her going to college and the kind of course she should pursue. In the future, there will be intense competition in Bollywood and a lot of things will come into play such as hard work as well as the luck factor. We cannot sit and decide anyone’s future. Ananya needs to go with the flow.

What kind of a bond does she share with you?
She is extremely close to Chunky and me. She discusses almost everything with us. Of course, there are certain things which every child shares only with their best friends and not their parents. 

Are you paranoid about her health and safety?
No, we are not paranoid, but we are extremely protective about her. Although Chunky can be sometimes paranoid about her health, I’m a stricter parent than him. There are certain rules and deadlines that she needs to follow till she’s living with us. For instance, I always ask Ananya and Rysa to inform us if they are getting late even if they are with their friends.

There are so many promising youngsters making their debuts in the next few years...
Everyone has got a great personality. They are fiercely independent and extremely focussed. They know what they want and are following that direction. We, as parents, should all support them.

There has been a huge debate about nepotism. Is Ananya prepared to face that question?
Of course, she is! She knows that she will be asked the same question and she’s prepared for it. Having said that, there are opportunities for everyone. People get noticed for who they are. Chunky came from a family of doctors and no one knew he would become an actor. His parents didn’t push for him too, so how can he be the face of nepotism? Look at Sridevi, she’s still one of the biggest actresses, even she came from nowhere and made it. So saying all this about her or even Amrita’s daughter is wrong.

Is Ananya friends with Sara and Janhvi?
They all know each other socially. But she’s not friends with them. Once she forays into Bollywood, they will all get to know each other and hopefully everything will be nice and positive. They will be friendly because the new generation is quite secure.

Today’s paparazzi culture is shocking and at times, extremely intrusive. Does it bother you as a mom?
Luckily, that has not happened to Ananya so far. There have been people who snapped her and she has posed for them. I do agree that it can be intrusive. But imagine if no one looks at you or clicks you at all! That would be worse than what they are going through now. Having said that, I do believe that everything should be within limits and we cannot intimidate the kids because they are still young.

From Insta fame to Bollywood gossip headlines, Chunky Panday's daughter Ananya, made the jump in one tweet. Now, she's ready to waltz into Parisian beau monde
Kusumita Das (MID-DAY; September 10, 2017)

Over two months ago, the Panday household received a letter from Ophélie Renouard, inviting their elder daughter Ananya to be a part of Paris' Le Bal. It was not something the 18-year-old, her father, actor Chunky Panday and wife Bhavana saw coming. Hinged on the traditional European concept of a debutante ball, Le Bal, Paris, has over the years fashioned itself as the place for 16 to 18-year-olds, from both royalty and famous families, to make their couture and media premiere.

Panday, who has just graduated from high school in Mumbai, and is looking forward to starting college at the University of Southern California next January, is a private celebrity kid without a frenzied social media imprint.

"I am there, and fairly active, too, but my accounts are private," she tells us, as we settle down for a chat at her Bandra home. Until this very moment, Panday has never met or spoken with the media. There's a quiet, innocent charm about her, and, an affable manner that one is easily taken in by. Dressed in ripped jeans, she stands as tall as her father, thanks to the four-inch heels she effortlessly struts in. Initially, Ananya says, she thought it was a family friend playing a prank.

"It's the only by-invitation debutante ball in the world and I did not believe it [that she was invited], when mum told me. But, I think reality has finally sunk in." She doesn't want to get too worked up, though. "Nervous excitement would be the apt phrase to describe my state of mind. Nervous, because I have never been part of anything like this before," says Panday, who will don a Jean Paul Gaultier gown. "I have never worn anything so fancy, or even an evening gown. Once I was told I would be wearing a Gaultier, I read up on him. I realise it's quite a big deal," she says with a smile.



In the next few days, Panday will be sending her measurements to the couturier. The final fittings will happen two days before the ball. "The trick is to not lose or gain weight, once the measurements are sent," interjects Bhavana. Being blessed with a tall and lean frame, there's no diet regime Ananya follows. In fact, earlier this year, when the family holidayed in Paris, she and her younger sister binged on French cuisine.

"I go to the gym and attend kathak classes. Soon, I will be taking ballroom dance lessons with my cousin Ahaan, who will be my cavalier at the ball. We have a dance [planned] together," she says of Deanne and Chikki Panday's son.

Styling and make-up are taken care of by the organisers. "The beauty of this event, we are realising, is that it is stress-free. And, it's a debutante ball for a reason. Nobody expects you to be perfect. As far as grooming goes, in children these days, it's in-born. The idea is to be yourself and, most importantly, savour the exclusive experience," Bhavana says. Ananya has not exchanged notes with any former participants. "I want this to be my experience. When you hear about others, you tend to compare."

While the selection of someone as private as her might come as a surprise, Renouard says that she "is exactly the kind of debutante we are looking for; exceptional girls who are private and discreet, even though their families are well-known. I like to 'discover them'."



She heard of Ananya through "friends and connections", a standard modus operandi she subscribes to. Once the debutante is selected, the most important task is to find the right couture house. "Then we have a team for the hair and make-up, shoes and general styling. The tricky part is learning the waltz, as most of them do not know how to dance. A waltz lesson on the Friday before Le Bal helps," she adds.

With Indian families, however, Renouard has one stumbling block. "Sometimes, the entourage makes it difficult to directly deal with the parents and the girls, which is something I prefer. If you deal with an assistant, no matter how good they are, something always gets lost in translation."

Princess Charming to do the waltz
Joining Ananya at the ball is Gauravi Kumari, daughter to Diya Kumari, Rajasthan MLA, and daughter of the last Maharaja of Jaipur. An experience on this scale is a first for her, too. "Which is why it is so exciting," she tells us over email. She has just moved to New York to start her term at NYU. "I am taking waltz classes, and I am still contemplating on the shoes I will be taking along," says Kumari, who will be dressed by Delhi couturier Tarun Tahiliani.