Actor Chunky Panday has come out in support of his daughter Ananya Panday after the latter faced widespread trolling online over a dance sequence in her recently released film Chand Mera Dil.
The controversy erupted after a scene from the film went viral on social media. In the sequence, Ananya’s character Chandni performs during a college cultural event featuring a fusion of Bharatanatyam-inspired movements mixed with contemporary and hip-hop elements. While some viewers appreciated the experimental approach, many social media users and classical dance enthusiasts criticised the performance, calling the movements stiff and lacking the grace associated with traditional Bharatanatyam.
The criticism intensified further because the performance featured a large idol of Lord Nataraja in the background, leading some users to interpret the sequence as a classical dance recital rather than a fusion act.
Ananya Pandey has killed my favorite dance form - Bharatnatyam! I have learnt it from the age of 7 to the age of 13 - did my arangetram too in kuwait & never looked back.
Classical dance needs to be studied over a period of time & cant be manufactured for Ms Pandey! Please dont…— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) May 24, 2026
Reacting to the backlash during a conversation with the Times of India, Chunky Panday said the sequence was being viewed without understanding the context of the film. “I think people completely misunderstood it. It was never meant to be pure Bharatanatyam. It was a fusion performance, the kind of experimental dance you often see college students perform at social or cultural events,” Chunky said.
The actor further explained that audiences incorrectly judged the performance from the perspective of traditional classical dance. “People assumed it was traditional Bharatanatyam and started judging it from that lens. But pure Bharatanatyam requires years and years of rigorous training, almost 20 years of discipline and precision,” he added.
Chunky Panday also spoke about the technical nature of Bharatanatyam and clarified that the film’s sequence intentionally blended futuristic and contemporary dance elements with classical influences. “It’s extremely technical and structured, almost robotic in its movements and expressions. This is a fusion of futuristic, advanced dance forms with elements of traditional dance. It’s a creative blend, not a classical recital,” he stated.
Requesting audiences to view the scene within the narrative context of the film, Chunky added, “I would request people to watch the film and understand the context before reacting.”
Ananya Panday, meanwhile, has remained silent on the controversy so far.
More Pages: Chand Mera Dil Box Office Collection , Chand Mera Dil Movie Review
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