'Want To Be Taken Seriously As An Actor': Ananya Panday On Her Future In Bollywood

Bollywood actress Ananya Panday, since her debut in 2019, has been trying her best to prove her acting prowess, overcoming initial criticisms to establish herself as a versatile talent in the film industry. In a recent interview, the actress candidly shared her aspirations and reflected on her career growth.

Making her debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year 2, Ananya Panday gained a strong foothold in the industry. She spoke with PTI, “I always wanted people to take me seriously as an actor.” She said her approach to roles and choices has evolved with her personal growth, stating, “It’s not that it (choices) changed after Gehraiyaan. I’m in my 20s, I’m growing up, and there are different things that I’m relating to.” According to her, this transformation in choices is akin to a ripple effect.

In the interview, Ananya revealed having a wishlist of collaborators and discreetly manifesting her desire to work with specific individuals. However, she underscored that “nothing works like good work,” emphasizing her commitment to focusing on the quality of her projects.

The actress received widespread acclaim for her performance in Gehraiyaan, directed by Shakun Batra and featuring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Deepika Padukone. Ananya expressed gratitude to filmmakers like Batra, Akhtar, and Motwane, acknowledging their belief in her ability to contribute significantly to their films.

Ananya’s upcoming project, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, a Netflix film set to release on December 26, 2023, boasts a stellar cast including Siddhant Chaturvedi, Adarsh Gourav, Ananya Panday, and Kalki Koechlin. Directed by Arjun Varain Singh, the film marks Ananya’s collaboration with Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Ritesh Sidhwani, who are producing the film under Excel Entertainments and Tiger Baby Films.

The actress started her cinematic journey with Punit Malhotra’s Student of the Year 2, sharing the screen with Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria. Produced by Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, and Apoorva Mehta, the film was released on May 10, 2019.