Ananya Panday's Dance Slammed: Bharatanatyam Joke?

Ananya Panday is currently facing significant online criticism following the release of a performance clip from her latest film, 'Chand Mera Dil.' The video, showing Panday dancing on stage while her co-star Lakshya looks on with a shocked expression, has ignited a social media storm.

Users on X have widely condemned her portrayal of Bharatanatyam, with many expressing that her performance misrepresented the classical dance form. Comments highlighted concerns over the lack of technique, control, and tradition, with some users finding it reduced to a chaotic wedding sangeet. The inclusion of a Nataraja idol in the background further fueled the outrage.

Further criticism pointed to the perceived disrespect towards the centuries of sophistication, training, and devotion associated with Bharatanatyam. Some users even suggested legal action could be taken against Panday for her performance. The film, which stars Lakshya Lalwani and Aastha Singh alongside Panday, was reviewed by India Today, which awarded it 1.5 stars, describing it as awkwardly suspended and suffocating under its many simultaneous ambitions.