Mumbai : What began as a dance sequence in Chand Mera Dil has now snowballed into a full fledged social media debate. Actress Ananya Panday recently came under fire after a clip of her Bharatnatyam fusion performance from the film went viral online. While some viewers criticised the choreography and expression, others took the conversation in a harsher direction, mocking the performance by calling it “Nepo Natyam.”
The dance was never presented as a pure Bharatnatyam recital. It was designed as a fusion act, blending elements of classical dance with modern commercial styles. But on the internet, nuance often disappears quickly. Within hours, memes, trolling and criticism flooded social media, with many questioning Ananya’s suitabilty for the performance.
Amid the backlash, writer and columnist Shobhaa De came out strongly in Ananya’s support. Reacting to the criticism, she questioned why the actress alone was being targeted for something that is clearly a creative decision involving choreographers, filmmakers and the entire team behind the film.
Shobhaa pointed out that Ananya is not a professionally trained Bharatnatyam dancer and said audiences today are becoming increasingly unforgiving, especially towards young actrs from film families. Her defence struck a chord with many who felt the criticism had become more personal than constructive.
Ananya’s father, actor Chunky Panday, also defended his daughter, explaining that the performance was intended to be experimental and cinematic rather than a traditional classical showcase.
The controversy has once again sparked a familiar conversation in Bollywood where should filmmakers draw the line while experimenting with classical art forms, and when does criticism turn into online bullying? While opinions on the dance itself remain divided, many believe the reaction says as much about internet culture as it does about the performance.
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