Ananya Panday has been in the spotlight following the release of her film *Chand Mera Dil*, particularly due to her Bharatanatyam fusion dance, which has faced significant backlash online. Critics have targeted her performance, labeling it as 'Nepo Natyam.' In response, author and columnist Shobhaa De has come to Panday's defense, questioning why the criticism is focused solely on the actress rather than the choreographer and director responsible for the dance sequence. De pointed out that Panday is not a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and emphasized the pressure young stars face to perform unfamiliar art forms. She remarked on the challenges actors encounter in delivering performances that often require them to dance and express emotions convincingly. De acknowledged that while she hasn't seen the film in full, the clips indicate that Panday has made an effort. Chunky Panday, Ananya's father, also defended her, suggesting that the backlash is based on misunderstandings of her performance.