It is only two years ago that she made her debut in the Hindi film industry with Student of the Year 2, and Ananya Panday has already managed to become the film industry’s darling. Known to speak her mind, Chunky Panday and Bhavana Pandey’s daughter is a role model for today’s youth, who look up to her for her sense of style as well as for her straight-from-the-heart statements.
And when it comes to the movies, she has quite a few exciting projects in her kitty. While there is Shakun Batra’s yet-untitled film with Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi, she is also paired opposite South superstar Vijay Deverakonda in the pan-India movie Liger, which will release in five languages.
When we asked our cover star, who has almost 16 million followers on Instagram, if she ever gets overwhelmed with the expectations or bogged down by responsibilities, she replied candidly, “Honestly, I don’t want to take the pressure of it because then I won’t be myself.” On her part, she just wants to be as real and authentic as possible. “There is a sense of responsibility because there are a lot of young people who look up to me. It’s a good responsibility because it’s making me a better person,” she states. Over to our sassy beauty for some candid thoughts on herself and her projects…
On the one hand, there are pictures of you all dolled up on your Instagram page, but you also don’t shy away from posting pictures of yourself sans make-up, in your PJs. Who’s the real Ananya Panday?
The real Ananya is a bit of both. When I’m at home, I don’t have my makeup on or sit with my hair done. I’m always in the same pyjamas. I have one favourite pair of British Airways pajamas that I keep wearing very often. Having said that, I also enjoy dressing up and going out. So, there are two sides to my personality and I put them both out there because someone could relate to either of them.
While nepotism is a done-to-death term, how do you plan to deal with it because that’s not going anywhere…
I think the only way to deal with it is to acknowledge it. I have always been aware that I have a sense of privilege and I have a sense of opportunity. So, the only way for me to deal with it is to make the most of it. Now that I have the platform, I want to keep doing good work and get all the love from the audience. I want to give it my all. I don’t want to not associate with my father or his work because 
I am very proud of him. I want to prove myself and keep better each passing day.
The first look of Liger came out a few days ago and everyone is excited. You’re probably the youngest Bollywood actor to get the opportunity to act in a pan-India movie. Are you looking at it as an opportunity to appeal to a much wider audience?
Of course. I debuted in the Hindi film industry two years ago and now, I’m making my debut in four other industries. It’s four times the nervous excitement and butterflies in the stomach! (laughs) I feel the world has become such a small place. India is a country filled with so much culture and so much love. There are so many different languages and with the OTT space booming with opportunities, there are no more boundaries left. I consider it a privilege to cater to so many different languages and people. I’m very excited about it.
In a recent interview, your Liger co-star Vijay said that you’re a really sweet girl. What do you think about him?
I think he’s lovely! We worked together for about 5-6 days before the lockdown took place. He is so down-to-earth and kind. He has the ability to completely transform himself in front of the camera.
You have worked with some of the best actors of this generation including Tiger Shroff, Kartik Aaryan and Ishaan Khatter. Who is on your wishlist of actors and directors?
There are so many people I want to work with. I would love to work with Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor. Among the directors, I want to work with Zoya Akhtar, Ayan Mukherji, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali… Once I start with the list, I won’t be able to stop! I just want to keep doing different things and not put myself in a box.
Tell us a bit about working in Shakun Batra’s next film?
We are almost done with the shoot and that makes me sad because we had a blast working for it. We couldn’t get out much for almost two months and bonded like family. Shakun was on my bucket-list of directors. I love all his films including Kapoor & Sons and Ek Main Aur Ek Tu. He is such an actor’s director. It was a great honor to work with him. What can I say about Deepika? As lovely as she is on the outside, she is even more beautiful from the inside. Such a warm person! I really look up at her career graph. Sid and I were constantly fighting and laughing. It was a wonderful team.
Do your parents have a different approach to your successes and failures?
Yes, they are very different. My dad is an actor himself and he has seen the highs and lows of the profession. So, he is more of a neutral reactor. He doesn’t get too happy with my success or too bogged down with the lows. He accepts it as a part of life. My mom is very excited! She is my biggest cheerleader and she gets very bothered if she reads something negative about me. It’s good for me because I can go to either of them depending on how I’m feeling.
RAPID FIRE
Your soul animal?
Liger!
Short skirts or crop tops?
Both!
Favourite travel destination:
I went to Maldives recently and we had so much fun.
Acting role model?
I really like Emma Stone
A beauty or skincare product you can’t do without?
Rosewater. I like to spray it on my face at least twice a day.
A genre you would like to try?
I would love to try my hand at horror.
What’s your 2 am snack?
Dark chocolate
A song you often find yourself humming?
It keeps changing as it depends on what song I am obsessed with at that time. At the moment, it’s Nakhre by Zack Knight.
Movies that are on your ‘anytime watch’ list?
Some of my favourite movies are Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Jab We Met among others.
If not an actor…
…I would have probably either become a doctor or a teacher for really young kids.
Words: Deepali Singh
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