Ananya Panday recently shared how her experience working with Deepika Padukone on Gehraiyaan left a lasting impact on her both professionally and personally.
Speaking at an event, Ananya praised Deepika for showing her the importance of confidently standing up for herself while maintaining kindness and empathy.
Reflecting on her early days in the film industry, Ananya revealed she wasn’t initially aware of how to assert her needs. “When I started out, I would simply follow instructions without question,” she admitted. However, working with Deepika on Shakun Batra’s relationship drama was eye-opening. “Deepika taught me how to express what I want in a confident yet polite manner. She stands up for everyone on set, reinforcing her views without being disrespectful,” Ananya shared.
The CTRL actress addressed the challenges women often face in such situations. “When women speak up, they’re often labeled as bossy or difficult to work with. But Deepika showed me that it’s possible to communicate your needs empathetically and still be heard.”
Ananya called the experience of working with Deepika “empowering,” saying it gave her the confidence to make more conscious choices as an actor. “Deepika inspired me as a younger actress to advocate for myself. Now, if I’m uncomfortable saying or doing something, I speak up because I don’t want to set the wrong example for young girls watching me on screen.”
On the work front, Ananya Panday has been gaining momentum with her recent OTT projects. She starred in Call Me Bae, an eight-episode comedy-drama released on Amazon Prime Video in September, and also headlined CTRL, a sci-fi thriller directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, streaming on Netflix.