Ananya Panday: Embracing Criticism, Social Media, and Artistic Growth in Bollywood

Actress Ananya Panday, who is receiving high marks for her role in "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan," believes you can't let love or hatred get to you too much. She regards the movie as a timely tale that depicts the influence of social media on young people.

Panday, who debuted in 2019's "Student of the Year 2," has frequently been the target of internet trolling due to remarks she makes, her wardrobe choices, and occasionally even the fact that she comes from a family in the film industry.

The 25-year-old, who is the daughter of actor Chunky Panday, claimed to have made a strong case for the need of self-expression and learning from mistakes. She feels that everything that has happened to her since she started acting has shaped who she is now.

I doubt I could have performed in the same way if I hadn't been exposed to those feelings. I'm thankful for everything that has happened since it has given me the opportunity to express myself via my art. Furthermore, some criticism can be constructive and insightful feedback. Of course, you have to ignore the pointless taunting, Panday said in an interview with PTI.

When asked about the compliments she has received since "Kho Gaye..." and "Gehraiyaan" in 2022, the actor replied that she has come to terms with accepting criticism.

Every Friday, it seems like people's perceptions shift. It is impossible to overindulge in either hatred or adulation. The only thing you can do is to keep up your hard work. You can only improve yourself because you have no control over how other people communicate. That's what I've discovered," continued Panday, who oversees a project for digital social responsibility that aims to stop cyberbullying.

She is pleased that her character, workaholic marketing executive Ahana, who turns to social media for affirmation because she feels stuck in her relationship and career, has struck a chord with people.

The movie, which also starred Adarsh Gourav and Siddhant Chaturvedi, according to Panday, was among her "best working experiences" to date. Arjun Varain Singh's film "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan" was released on Netflix on December 26.

"I want to be able to play characters that go beyond generation, that people always remember, people feel happy when they think about and they feel like they can relate to," said the actor, who recalled growing up with movies such in "Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa" , "Ye Jawani Hai Deewani" and that "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" .

"Kho Gaye..." tells the story of three friends who are unable to move forward in life for various reasons: Panday's Ahana, Chaturvedi's Imaad, a stand-up comic hiding a tragedy, or Gourav's Neil, a fitness instructor trying to make it big. The story highlights the dangers of hyper-connectivity in the Internet era and the constant need for validation from strangers.

As for the film, Panday explained that the goal was to show "what's going on around all of us" and to comprehend the contemporary generation.

"The director and all of the actors sensed it... Everyone had the impression that something was occurring in their life, but nobody was discussing it. Since it involves more than simply social media, it is a very pertinent topic. It has to do with how relationships have evolved." Panday claimed that the movie made her reevaluate her own connection with social media. She is an avid Instagram user but says she is "too scared" of X.

"Everyone must ultimately understand that this is all just for pleasure and that it can all be taken away at the push of a button. It's all gone the moment you close your phone. Furthermore, there is a real world with real people and relationships to make." Although Panday has won praise for some of the film's poignant scenes, the actor claimed that those scenes came naturally to her in contrast to the film's humorous portions.

Oddly enough, I find that laughing on screen is the hardest thing about being an actor. "It's one of those movies where we had to laugh at the scenes where the friends are hanging out, but I just couldn't," the actor recalled.

A workshop with acting instructor Atul Mongia proved beneficial for her. "He performs an exercise where you have to go from zero to hundred while experiencing "every degree of an emotion." I just couldn't do joy and happiness. I could do despair, anger, and everything in between. He forced me to sit in the center of the space. He made me laugh after making me cry," the woman remarked.

In addition to Vikramaditya Motwane's film "Control," Panday is working on an untitled feature and her first web series, "Call Me Bae," which is a cute girl flick.

As an actor, I find it satisfying that directors like Vikram Sir, Shakun (Batra - 'Gehraiyaan'), and Zoya (Akhtar - co-writer of 'Kho Gaye...') want to work with me because they see something in me. Working with people who help me grow and improve is, in my opinion, the best reward for an actor," the actress remarked.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.