In a candid chat with Raj Shamani, Ananya Panday addressed the popular belief that Karan Johar protects and shields 'star kids' from criticisms.
Ananya Panday is receiving a lot of praise for her impressive performances in recent works, Call Me Bae and CTRL. However, as the daughter of Chunky Panday, Ananya is the offspring of a star family. After her debut in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year 2, Ananya received a fair share of criticism. Recently, Ananya addressed the popular speculation that KJo protects ‘star kids’ and supports them, claiming that it’s actually the opposite.
Ananya recently appeared in a candid chat with Raj Shamani on his podcast, sharing snippets from her experience as an actor coming from a star family and making an identity of her own. At one point, the discussion landed on the role of Karan Johar in her career. When asked if Karan Johar creates a 'protective bubble' around her or other star kids, Ananya was quick to refute the claim. The CTRL actor shared:
“Not at all. He is the first one to pop the bubble. Rather than feeding us, ki yeh karna hai woh karna hai, he’s just there as a strong pillar of support.”
Reflecting on her experience working with Karan, Ananya revealed that other than protecting star kids from harsh criticisms, KJo keeps it honest and doesn’t shy away from giving constructive criticism, especially when it comes to constructive criticism.
In the same chat, Ananya shared her admiration for Karan Johar, describing him as someone who values honesty and transparency over shielding celebrity offspring from the realities of the industry. He keeps it real among star kids about the pros and cons of stardom. Describing KJo’s approach to them, Ananya shared:
“He is very perceptive and very open, and he doesn’t want to shield himself, so I didn’t think he wants it for any of us, you know. He wants us to be in the real world and get as much exposure as possible.”
Ananya also spoke up about being labelled the ‘star kid’, no matter what they do or how well they perform. As the daughter of Chunky Panday, she is no stranger to the allegations of nepotism in her career. Criticising unpopular views on nepotism, Ananya shared:
“People have turned the term ‘star kid’ into a bad word, but I don’t think it should be. When someone watches something on screen, they think, oh, she’s so-and-so’s daughter. It doesn't need to be like that. People should just focus on the work."
Ananya Panday started her acting career with Student of the Year 2 in 2019. Despite her initial struggles to win over critics, Ananya has been making waves with her recent performances in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, CTRL, and Call Me Bae. In CTRL, a Netflix hit directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, she portrayed ‘Nella’, a social media influencer navigating the chaos of a digital breakdown. Her role received praise for its complexity and relatability. She also co-starred with Ayushman Khurana in the 2023 comedy romance film, Dream Girl 2. Currently, Ananya is gearing up for her upcoming work, Chand Mera Dil, set to release in 2025.
What do you think about Ananya Panday’s revelations?
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