
Siddhant Chaturvedi Says 'Ananya Panday Was Always An Actress' After Anurag Kashyap's Remark On Her Growth
Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi has broken his silence on filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's recent remark suggesting that actress Ananya Panday matured as a performer following the much-discussed 2020 'struggle" comment that reignited the nepotism debate.
In an interview with ETimes, Siddhant downplayed any personal credit for Ananya's evolution, emphasizing her own talent and perseverance. 'I don't think it's my contribution. Independently, she is a very strong girl, very, very talented, and a nice person to be with," he said.
The two actors have previously shared screen space in Gehraiyaan and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, both of which sparked conversations around their chemistry and onscreen compatibility. Reflecting on their collaborations, Siddhant said, 'I have done two films with her and I look forward to doing more. I don't think your growth happens because of anyone. Either you are an actor, or you are not. She was always an actress. It's just that she got those opportunities and she excelled."
He added warmly, 'Whenever we have collaborated, it has worked. I think we are each other's lucky charm."
Siddhant's response comes after Kashyap recently observed that Ananya had displayed remarkable growth and self-awareness post the backlash from the 2020 roundtable discussion, where Siddhant's pointed remark had gone viral: 'Jahaan humare sapne poore hote hain, wahi inka struggle shuru hota hai" (Their struggles begin where our dreams come true).
The comment, aimed at the privilege gap between outsiders and star kids in the industry, became a defining moment in the ongoing nepotism discourse in Bollywood.
Meanwhile, Siddhant is gearing up for the release of Dhadak 2, the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2018 romantic drama Dhadak. Directed by Shazia Iqbal and backed by Dharma Productions, the sequel stars Siddhant alongside Animal breakout star Triptii Dimri. Unlike the first film, which was an adaptation of Sairat, Dhadak 2 promises a fresh storyline rooted in a different socio-political backdrop, exploring themes of love, class divide, and rebellion.
Dhadak 2 is slated to hit theatres on August 1.
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