'Was never meant to be pure Bharatnatyam': Ananya Panday's father Chunky REACTS to actress' MASSIVE BACKLASH

Actress Ananya Panday has recently become the target of intense online trolling after a dance scene from her new film Chand Mera Dil began circulating widely across social media. Many users criticised the sequence for blending classical Bharatanatyam inspired movements with modern choreography, fashion, and cinematic styling. As debates around the clip continued to grow, several viewers questioned whether the performance respected the traditional dance form or altered it excessively for entertainment purposes.

Amid the backlash, actor Chunky Panday came out in support of his daughter and defended the intention behind the performance. Reacting to the criticism, he told ETimes, “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.”

He further explained that many viewers assumed the sequence was attempting to present traditional Bharatanatyam and judged it accordingly. Chunky stressed that authentic Bharatanatyam is a highly technical and disciplined art form that demands years of training, dedication, and precision from performers before they can master it.

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 Panday

Calling the sequence a creative attempt rather than a classical recital, he added, “This is a fusion of futuristic, advanced dance forms with elements of traditional dance. It’s a creative blend, not a classical recital. I would request people to watch the film and understand the context before reacting.”

The actor’s remarks have added another layer to the ongoing online conversation surrounding the film and its choreography choices. While opinions on the sequence continue to remain divided among audiences, Ananya herself has chosen not to publicly respond to the criticism so far.