Shobhaa De backs Ananya Panday amid Bharatanatyam row over Chand Mera Dil

Novelist and columnist Shobhaa De defended Ananya Panday after her Bharatanatyam fusion dance sequence in Chand Mera Dil was trolled online. She said the scrutiny should also fall on the film's choreographer and director, not the actor alone.

In Short

• Shobhaa De questioned why only Ananya Panday faced criticism online
• She said directors and choreographers also shape demanding dance performances
• De noted many actors perform difficult routines without formal classical training

Ananya Panday's Bharatanatyam fusion dance sequence in Chand Mera Dil has triggered a debate online, with a section of social media trolling the actor and calling her performance "Nepo Natyam". Author and columnist Shobhaa De has now spoken in Ananya's support, questioning why the criticism has been aimed only at the actor.

De said the discussion should also account for the demands placed on actors by filmmakers and choreographers. She argued that Ananya is not a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and said the criticism should not be directed at her alone.

Sharing a video on Instagram, she said, "She's not a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and if you have to call out anyone, shouldn't it be the choreographer and the director? Why target her?"

She further added that there's a lot of pressure on young actors to perform an art form that they don't know: "Not just her, I feel there's an incredible amount of pressure on our young stars and even the older stars, most of whom were not trained classical dancers but were expected to perform classical dances or fusion dances or modern dances - any kind of dance that the director thought was needed for a sequence."

Here's the video:

Highlighting the demands that actors face while performing on screen, she said, "They did it, they lip-synced, they danced, they showed expressions. Is all that easy? It's not easy at all. How many Hollywood stars do you know? How many big international stars have to do all of this and look amazing and look fabulous and look in love for the film, for whatever the performance demands?"

Addressing the criticism directed at Ananya, De also said online audiences often react without considering the full context. "I haven't watched the film - I've seen clips - but to be constantly trolled and called 'Nepo Natyam', it sounds cute, but she has tried. And like I said, if you have to call out anyone, get the choreographer and get them to answer, though I believe the clip has been taken out of context. Well, you decide," she concluded.

This isn't the first time that Shobhaa De has backed Ananya Panday. In December 2025, she extended support to the Saat Samundar Paar remix by Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday's Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri. The remixed track received backlash from social media users.

How did the choreographer react?

Assistant choreographer Ananya Kurup also defended Ananya Panday, saying that attempting a classical dance form outside one's comfort zone requires courage and commitment. She described the actor as hardworking and said she had put in significant effort despite limited time.

The comment read, "Trying a classical art form outside your comfort zone takes courage and dedication. Bharatanatyam is something dancers train in for years to perfect the grace, expressions, and technique. @ananyapanday put in genuine hard work and effort in a very short span of time, and that deserves appreciation. Instead of pulling someone down for trying something new, let's encourage artists who challenge themselves and give their best."

What is the controversy all about?

In the film, Ananya plays Chandni, daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer. But instead of performing a traditional recital, she presents a fusion act that blends Bharatanatyam-inspired choreography with modern hip-hop and locking at a reunion event. The skit appears twice in the film, first during Chandni’s college days and later at a reunion function. On both occasions, Lakshya’s character Aarav is shown as completely mesmerised by the performance.

Chand Mera Dil marks the first on-screen collaboration between Ananya Panday and Lakshya. Ananya was last seen in Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri alongside Kartik Aaryan, while Lakshya recently appeared in The Ba***ds of Bollywood, created by Aryan Khan.

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