Ananya Panday Predicts a Rise in Social Media-Themed Films, Reflects on Career Growth

Ananya Panday, who has recently starred in the Vikramaditya Motwane-directed CTRL, believes that social media will play an increasingly important role in films, whether in the romance or thriller genres. In her latest film CTRL, where the story unfolds entirely through various screens, Ananya plays Nella, a social media influencer whose life spirals when she enlists the help of an AI to erase her cheating ex, portrayed by Vihaan Samat, from her digital presence.

Reflecting on the prevalence of technology in storytelling, Ananya shared that although the release of her three projects—CTRL, Call Me Bae, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan—coincided, she didn’t initially notice their common theme. "I feel like it is the time that we're living in. It is the generation that we're living in where technology is such a big part of all of our lives," she said. "It'll be hard to tell a story where there isn't some effect or some social media. It will be in many more stories going forward."

Regarding the potential dangers of hyper-connectivity, Panday admitted that working on CTRL has made her more cautious about her own online behavior, though some habits are difficult to break. "Even in the smallest of things, like just agreeing to terms and conditions, allowing your iPad and your laptops access to your camera and microphone, accepting cookies every time you go onto a new website... We're not aware of the repercussions."

Ananya also reminisced about her first secret social media account on Facebook, which she had to deactivate after her mother discovered it. "My mom found out and really got angry at me. She deactivated my Facebook account for a few years."

With over 25 million followers on Instagram, Panday has been using the platform to promote CTRL, which began streaming on Netflix on October 4. For her, the key to navigating social media is to keep things light and not take it too seriously. "I keep it as real as possible. I post whatever I want. I don't take it too seriously. That's the key," she remarked, though she acknowledged that her relationship with social media changes depending on her activities.

Ananya also spoke about how she related to certain aspects of her character in CTRL, particularly the public nature of her life and the scrutiny it invites. However, she had to delve deeper into the character's background, such as Nella's Delhi roots and her parents' bakery. "Being an actor, I find all the reel making and stuff very tough. It’s a proper job."

Panday, who made her film debut in 2019 with Student of the Year 2, has faced social media trolling but views it as part of her personal and professional growth. "Everything has made me the person and the actor that I am today. So I'm grateful for everything."

She credits Shakun Batra’s Gehraiyaan as a pivotal moment in her career, leading to her role in CTRL. "The opportunities I'm getting now are a lot more fruitful and satisfying as an actor," she said.

Looking ahead, Ananya expressed her desire to explore new genres, including romance, horror, and biopics, and named directors she hopes to collaborate with, such as Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.