You know, if you had told me a year ago that people would genuinely praise Ananya Panday’s acting, I would’ve laughed it off. Seriously.
Because let’s be real — from her very first film, people have been trolling her left, right, and center.
Questions like, “Does she even know acting?” or “Why does Dharma Productions keep launching these star kids?” — they were everywhere.
And honestly? The criticism felt fair.
Her performances were pretty weak, and it looked like she was there just because of her surname, not talent.
But now, after the release of Kesari Chapter 2, something strange has happened.
The same audience that mocked her is now praising her.
Like, really praising her. And not just a few random fans — full-on reviewers, YouTubers, casual moviegoers — everyone seems impressed.
At first, I thought, “Here we go again. Dharma must be pulling some PR tricks.”
But after seeing review after review, from creators who don’t usually sugarcoat things, I realized — wait, this might actually be real.
Watching Kesari Chapter 2: Waiting for the Usual Ananya
I won’t lie. When I walked into the theater to watch Kesari 2, I was fully expecting the same old Ananya — stiff dialogue delivery, blank expressions, the works.
I was literally sitting there, waiting for that "cringe" moment.
But you know what?
It didn’t happen.
From her very first scene, you could feel it — she was trying.
There was an honesty in her performance this time, a kind of sincerity we hadn’t seen before.
For the first time, Ananya Panday didn’t look like someone pretending to be an actress — she was an actress.
No, she didn't deliver some mind-blowing, award-winning performance.
But compared to her past roles?
This was a massive upgrade.
And honestly, that's what people are appreciating — the visible improvement, the effort, the growth.
Is Karan Johar Grooming Ananya Like He Did With Alia?
Now, let's be real — nothing in Bollywood happens without a strategy behind it.
And if you’ve been paying attention, you'll notice that Ananya’s career path is looking very similar to Alia Bhatt’s early days.
Remember when Alia started out?
She was mocked for being "dumb" in interviews and criticized for her acting.
People made memes about her for years.
But look at her today — Alia is one of Bollywood’s most respected actresses.
And a big reason for that?
Karan Johar and Dharma Productions.
They stood by her, gave her good films, slowly built her credibility.
Now, it feels like Karan is playing the same long game with Ananya Panday.
First Gehraiyaan (a content-heavy OTT film), now Kesari Chapter 2 — these are serious projects aimed at showing Ananya’s growth.
It's a smart move.
Because once you win audience respect, fame follows naturally.
That’s exactly how Alia went from “Ugh, another star kid” to “Wow, she's amazing.”
And maybe, just maybe, Ananya is beginning that journey too.
A Quick Look at Ananya vs Tara Sutaria
It’s also interesting when you compare Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria.
Both debuted together in Student of the Year 2 back in 2019.
Back then, Tara was seen as the more talented one — more polished, more refined.
But fast forward to today — Ananya has raced ahead.
Since her debut, Ananya has done 9 films, one web series, and 2 cameos.
Tara, meanwhile, has only managed 5 films with limited success.
And here’s the kicker:
After SOTY 2, Dharma Productions kept offering Ananya new projects — Gehraiyaan, Liger, Kesari Chapter 2, and even the web series Call Me Bae.
Tara? Not a single Dharma project after her debut.
Clearly, someone saw potential in Ananya — and they’re betting big on her.
The Reality Behind Ananya’s Rise
Look, nobody’s saying Ananya Panday has become the next Meryl Streep overnight.
But the girl has improved — and people have noticed.
The shift is not just because of some PR gimmick.
It's because, for once, audiences didn’t feel like they were being forced to like her.
They actually liked what they saw on screen.
Movies like Kesari Chapter 2, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and Gehraiyaan show a different Ananya — one who’s willing to step out of her comfort zone and take risks.
And that’s refreshing.
Because let's be honest — Bollywood needs actors who are willing to evolve, not just rely on family names.
What’s Next for Ananya?
Looking ahead, Ananya has some interesting projects lined up:
- Chand Mera Dil under Dharma Productions
- Rumors of another collaboration involving Kartik Aaryan
- Plus her web series Call Me Bae, already gaining buzz
If she keeps choosing smart, challenging roles, she might actually pull off a full career transformation — just like Alia did.
Of course, it's still early days.
One good performance doesn’t erase years of trolling.
But it’s a start — and sometimes, that’s all you need.
So, what do you think?
Did Ananya Panday finally win you over with Kesari Chapter 2?
Does she have what it takes to become Bollywood’s next big thing?
Only time (and smarter film choices) will tell.
But for now?
Let’s just give her some well-earned credit.
She worked for it.