Over the last 72 hours, a specific performance sequence from the Vivek Soni-directed urban romance went viral for attracting brutal, uninhibited roasts from classical dance stalwarts like Anita Ratnam, alongside heavy political takedowns from Congress leaders. Purists slammed the scene—where Ananya's character Chandni presents a college fusion routine blending basic Bharatanatyam posture with sharp hip-hop locks—accusing the film of "holding an ancient art form hostage".
The Counter-Strike: Target the Makers, Not the Asset
Taking to her official Instagram handle to deliver a direct, zero-nonsense video monologue, Shobhaa De fiercely defended the young star, arguing that the public-relations assault is being targeted at the wrong individual:
“She's not a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and if you have to call out anyone, shouldn't it be the choreographer and the director? Why target her? Not just her, I feel there's an incredible amount of pressure on our young stars and even the older stars, most of whom were not trained classical dancers but were expected to perform classical dances or fusion dances or modern dances—any kind of dance that the director thought was needed for a sequence.”
De aggressively labeled the viral internet insult "Nepo Natyam"—which has blanketed Reddit threads and X timelines since the film's May 22 premiere—as a lazy, mean-spirited catchphrase. While she candidly admitted she hadn't sat through the full theatrical run yet, she emphasized that evaluating a performance based on out-of-context digital clips is a severe ethical failure:
“To be constantly trolled and called 'Nepo Natyam'—it sounds cute, but she has tried. And like I said, if you have to call out anyone, get the choreographer and get them to answer, though I believe the clip has been taken out of context. Well, you decide.”
The Hollywood Contrast: The Brutal Demands of Bollywood
Deploying her signature global lens, the veteran columnist highlighted that Indian actors operate under a staggering physical and performance layout that Western performers are rarely forced to navigate:
The Triple Threat Burden: "They did it, they lip-synced, they danced, they showed expressions. Is all that easy? It's not easy at all," De argued fiercely.
The Global Shield: "How many Hollywood stars do you know? How many big international stars have to do all of this and look amazing and look fabulous and look in love for the film, for whatever the performance demands?" she added, framing Ananya’s sheer attempt as something worthy of structural praise rather than internet exile.
Shifting the Long-Term Commentary
What makes Shobhaa De’s public intervention particularly fascinating for trade analysts is how radically it subverts her own historical positioning regarding the actor’s brand value. Just three months ago, during a viral interview cycle in February 2026, De had openly rooted for Kartik Aaryan while dismissing Ananya’s portfolio layout, candidly noting that she lacked a "distinct personality" on screen and needed projects that moved beyond basic "barbie-dolling". By stepping forward now to act as her primary institutional shield against the classical dance fraternity, De is sending a clear message to the industry: there is a vast structural difference between critiquing a young actor's film choices and allowing a toxic, relentless online mob to compromise their professional integrity over a routine piece of commercial choreography.
SantaBanta Verdict:
Shobhaa De has hit the absolute nail on the head here. In today's hyper-reactive digital environment, an actor is treated like an isolated island responsible for every single failure on screen, while the massive corporate infrastructure behind them goes completely unquestioned. Ananya Panday didn't break into a studio, set up a Nataraja idol, arrange a hip-hop backing track, and direct the cameras herself—she executed a highly specific, rehearsed routine handed down by director Vivek Soni and a specialized choreography team to fit a college reunion plotline. Trolling a performer for lack of years-long classical training while they are simply fulfilling a script layout is peak internet hypocrisy, and De's blunt reminder to "get the choreographer to answer" is an incredibly satisfying reality check for cultural purists.
