Ridhima Pandit appears to take swipe at Ananya Panday over Chand Mera Dil Bharatanatyam fusion performance

Actor Ananya Panday has been facing criticism online after a clip from Chand Mera Dil featuring her Bharatanatyam fusion performance went viral on social media, sparking debate over the choreography and execution of the sequence.

The scene, which blends Bharatanatyam with styles such as hip-hop and locking, drew mixed reactions from viewers, with some questioning the fusion approach and others criticising the performance itself.

Amid the ongoing discussion, Ridhima Pandit appeared to react to one of the viral reels. The post carried the caption: “When you learn Bharatanatyam from online tutorial for your culturals,” and jokingly contrasted “Bharatanatyam” with “Roboratanatyam.”

Ridhima responded in the comments section with: “Guts” followed by two crying emojis, a reaction many social media users interpreted as a dig at Ananya’s performance.

Several online users also weighed in with criticism. One comment read, “That’s not fusion. That’s confusion,” while others questioned the choreography and dance execution.

In the film, Ananya plays Chandni, the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer portrayed by Charu Shankar. The viral scene shows her character opting for a modern fusion performance rather than a traditional recital.

Amid the backlash, Ananya’s father Chunky Panday defended the sequence, saying viewers had misunderstood its intent.

According to him, the performance was designed as an experimental fusion routine rather than a classical Bharatanatyam presentation. He also urged audiences to view the film in context before judging the sequence.

Directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Dharma Productions, Chand Mera Dil follows the story of two engineering students navigating love and adulthood. The film has received mixed responses from both critics and audiences.