In a recent interview, rising star Ananya Panday addressed the prevalent issue of women being pitted against each other in the film industry, shedding light on her experiences working with industry veterans like Deepika Padukone and Bhumi Pednekar.

Ananya swiftly dismissed the notion of rivalry, emphasising that the narrative of women being set against each other is often perpetuated by a select group or the media. She highlighted her positive experiences working with renowned actresses, citing Deepika Padukone and Bhumi Pednekar as examples, whom she considers as friends and a source of learning and support.

She stated, “This pitting against each other, especially when it comes to women, is done by a certain set of people or the media. All these controversies, rumours and stories when, in actuality, I’ve been lucky enough to work with women such as Deepika Padukone, and Bhumi Pednekar very early on in my career and I’ve learned from them. We were good friends when we were shooting, and we’ve kept in touch; every time we meet, there’s warmth.”

Fostering Bonds

Ananya further emphasized the camaraderie and support she has received from her female colleagues, including Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, highlighting the deep bonds and mutual respect shared among them. She emphasized the enduring friendships formed within the industry and the invaluable support extended by fellow actresses, challenging external perceptions.

She elaborated, “Every female actor, especially the ones that I’ve come across, will always say that the women that they’ve encountered in the industry are some of their most long-lasting friends. They’ve gotten a lot of support from women within the industry, I don’t think anyone understands that from the outside.”

On the Horizon

Shifting the focus to her professional endeavours, Ananya Panday’s recent success with the Netflix release “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” has propelled her into the spotlight. With projects like Vikramaditya Motwane’s upcoming film and the highly anticipated “Shankara” alongside Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan, she continues to cement her position as a versatile talent in the industry.