Ananya Panday Reflects on Her Bollywood Journey: “My Friends Were More Prepared”

The actress opens up about starting her career without formal training and how the pandemic transformed the industry.

Ananya Panday has always shared a close bond with her childhood best friends, Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor. The trio, often spotted together during public outings and sharing love on social media, continue to support one another as they navigate their careers. However, Ananya recently revealed that her journey into Bollywood was different from her friends’ more prepared paths.

In a candid interview with Humans of Bombay, the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan star reflected on her entry into the industry, highlighting that, unlike her friends who are just starting their careers, she lacked formal training when she made her debut. Ananya, the senior-most of the group, noted that her friends seem to have an advantage. “Everyone’s journey is different… I’m very happy with when I started, but when I see my friends beginning at 24 or 25, they’re so well-prepared. They’ve taken all the classes and know how to handle the media,” Ananya shared.

While she acknowledges her friends’ readiness, the Call Me Bae actress admitted that she wasn’t as equipped when she entered Bollywood. Despite this, Ananya expressed gratitude for her own experience, which began with Student of the Year 2 in 2019. She also noted that there’s still much more she hopes to achieve in her career.

Reflecting on the changes since her debut, Ananya pointed out how the pandemic shifted the entertainment landscape. She explained that both the industry and audience preferences have evolved significantly, especially with the rise of OTT platforms. The actress questioned if films like her debut would even be made today, acknowledging how different the post-pandemic world is for content creation.

At 25, Ananya Panday continues to embrace her growth as an actress, but she remains aware of how the evolving industry will influence the next phase of her career.