Ananya Panday and Lakshya starrer ‘Chand Mera Dil’ has been grabbing attention over the past few days, not for its storyline or box office performance, but for a dance sequence featuring Ananya Panday. Social media quickly turned the clip into a meme fest after her Bharatanatyam-inspired performance surfaced online. The actress was brutally trolled, with many claiming her dance moves were nowhere close to the classical art form.

Ananya Panday brutally trolled for Bharatnatyam moves in ‘Chand Mera Dil’

Netizens compared her performance to legendary Bollywood actresses like Sridevi and others known for mastering classical dance forms. Not just social media users, even a section of the media sought opinions from trained Bharatanatyam experts and classical dancers on the sequence.

Chunky Panday supports daughter Ananya for receiving online backlash

Now, Ananya’s father, actor Chunky Panday, has come to her defense. Speaking to ETimes, he clarified that the sequence was never intended to be pure Bharatanatyam.“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 said.Chunky further explained that people mistook the act for a classical recital and judged it accordingly.“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. It’s extremely technical and structured, almost robotic in its movements and expressions.”Calling it a creative experiment, 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.”

About Chand Mera Dil

Set against the backdrop of an engineering college, ‘Chand Mera Dil’ follows Aarav and Chandni, two students whose passionate romance takes an unexpected turn when adulthood and responsibilities arrive too early in their lives. What begins as a youthful love story gradually transforms into an emotionally intense journey about marriage, parenthood, sacrifice and self-discovery.Professionally, Chunky Panday was last seen in ‘Rahu Ketu’ and will next be seen in David Dhawan’s upcoming film ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’.