Bollywood actor Ananya Panday has been facing backlash for her Bharatanatyam fusion dance sequence in her recent release, Chand Mera Dil. Dancer and choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, who has mentored Ananya in the past, came out in support of the actor.
Soparrkar took to Instagram to defend Ananya, calling the outrage 'absolutely rubbish'. He claimed that the same people who are criticizing Ananya were silent when reality shows and social media blurred the lines between classical and commercial dance.
Soparrkar added that Ananya trained seriously and performed exactly what was envisioned by the director and choreographer for cinema, not for a classical stage. He advised Ananya not to be bothered by the noise on social media and encouraged people to appreciate her efforts.
In Chand Mera Dil, Ananya plays Chandni, the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer. The scene that received backlash shows her character performing a fusion routine that combines Bharatanatyam with hip-hop and locking.
Her father, Chunky Panday, also came out in support of the actor and urged audiences to watch the film and understand the context before reacting or criticizing.
