Father Chunky Pandey says Ananya's Bharatanatyam was 'misunderstood' amid criticism

Actor Chunky Panday has come out in support of his daughter Ananya Panday after a dance sequence from Chand Mera Dil sparked widespread debate online. The clip, which features Ananya performing a Bharatanatyam-inspired fusion routine, drew criticism from several social media users and classical dancers, many of whom questioned the choreography and execution.

Responding to the backlash, Chunky said the performance had been “completely misunderstood” because it was never intended to be a pure Bharatanatyam recital. Speaking to ETimes, he explained that the sequence was designed as a fusion act similar to the kind often performed at college cultural festivals. “People assumed it was traditional Bharatanatyam and started judging it from that lens,” he said, urging viewers to watch the film in context before reacting.

Why did the Chand Mera Dil dance sequence trigger criticism?

In the film, Ananya plays Chandni, the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer portrayed by Charu Shankar. The now-viral scene shows Chandni opting for a contemporary fusion performance blending Bharatanatyam with hip-hop and locking rather than presenting a traditional classical routine.

Watch the video here:

The sequence quickly became a talking point online, with several Bharatanatyam practitioners criticising the choreography. Among those who criticised the sequence was Anita Ratnam, a celebrated Bharatanatyam exponent and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient.

Reviewing the viral clip on social media, she wrote, “Bharatanatyam is built on technique, control, tradition, geometry, musicality and emotional depth. This clip treats it like a wedding sangeet filmed during a mild earthquake.” She also said the choreography appeared to bulldoze through “centuries of sophistication, training, dedication and devotion”.

Take a look at her post:

What did Chunky Panday say in Ananya’s defence?

Chunky stressed that classical Bharatanatyam requires years of rigorous training and that the film never attempted to position the sequence as a traditional recital. According to him, the act was intended to represent an experimental blend of modern and traditional styles rather than a strict classical performance.

He added that audiences may have reacted differently after watching the complete narrative arc instead of isolated clips circulating online.

How has Chand Mera Dil performed so far?

Directed by Vivek Soni and backed by Dharma Productions, the film is set in an engineering college and follows the relationship between Aarav and Chandni as adulthood complicates their romance.

Meanwhile, Chunky is also preparing for the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan and starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde.