Ananya Panday is one of the most popular young actresses in Bollywood today. Even though she has achieved a lot of fame, the CTRL actress shared that she deals with imposter syndrome. She admitted that when she sees herself on billboards or in movies, she forgets it’s her on screen.
In a chat with News18 Showsha, Ananya opened up about her struggles with fame. She explained, “My imposter syndrome starts with something as simple as hearing my name. During interviews, when people say my name, it feels like it’s not really mine, and I start feeling like a different person.” She added that this makes her act like someone else for a moment.
Ananya also shared that when she looks at herself on a billboard, she doesn’t feel like she’s looking at herself. “The same thing happens when I watch my films. I watch them like a regular audience member and forget that it’s me on screen,” she said.
At 25 years old, Ananya admits she is tough on herself and always seeks approval from others, especially on film sets. She said that even when the director approves a shot, she feels she could have done it better. If it were up to her, she would reshoot everything, as she always sees room for improvement.
When asked if her imposter syndrome is made worse by the trolling and criticism she faces on social media, Ananya said it varies. Some days, negative comments don’t bother her. Other days, they make her feel bad, especially if she’s having a tough time on set. She noted that social media can affect a person’s mindset in harmful ways.
Despite this, Ananya’s recent work in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Call Me Bae has received praise, which has boosted her confidence. She said, “It feels good to know I’m making the right choices.”
Ananya revealed that some people questioned her decision to do a series and warned her against doing too many OTT projects early in her career. She had doubts, fearing that people might not watch them. However, the positive reviews of her recent projects reassured her that she’s on the right track.
The Student Of The Year 2 actress added that working with good people has helped her, and she feels calm about where her career is going. She believes her decisions will pay off in time.
On the professional front, Ananya is preparing for the release of Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL, where she stars alongside Vihaan Samat. This cyberthriller focuses on the world of social media and how AI could impact it. The movie marks Ananya and Vihaan’s second collaboration after Call Me Bae.
CTRL, produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and Arya A Menon, with writing by Avinash Sampath and Vikramaditya Motwane, and dialogues by Sumukhi Suresh, will release on Netflix on October 4, 2024. Additionally, Call Me Bae is set to return for a second season soon.
