Ananya Panday’s Chand Mera Dil dance row proves EVERYTHING that’s wrong with social media outrage and context-free trolling

The recently released film *Chand Mera Dil* starts with an interesting setup. Director Vivek Soni has a talent for taking common situations and making them feel fresh and visually engaging. This quality was seen in his 2025 Netflix film *Aap Jaisa Koi*, and *Chand Mera Dil* is no different.

Ananya Panday’s dance performance in *Chand Mera Dil* has sparked a lot of online criticism, highlighting how social media can be unfair and unkind without understanding the full picture.


In the first 15 minutes of the movie, we meet Aarav, played by Lakshya, a student who isn’t very interested in anything.
Then Chandni, played by Ananya Panday, steps on stage for a dance performance. What starts as a traditional Bharatnatyam routine takes an unexpected turn as she adds modern elements, giving it a unique feel. The song "Priya Madhuri" is used in the sequence, adding to the mood. By the end of the performance, Aarav is completely captivated and starts to fall for Chandni.

Unfortunately, this creative and well-done sequence has now become a target for online mockery.
On May 24, a Twitter account posted a short clip of the dance. The video was clearly taken from an illegal pirated copy of the film, and it didn’t provide any context. To truly understand the performance, you need to watch the full sequence from start to finish.

When viewed in isolation, the end of the dance might seem strange.
The poor quality of the pirated copy also makes it hard to hear the "Priya Madhuri" track, which is important to the scene. Some people tried to say that Ananya’s dance was an insult to Bharatnatyam.

Many people jumped in to criticize Ananya and her dance moves.
It was easy for some verified accounts to attack her and make fun of Hindi cinema. These posts get a lot of attention, and the more reactions they get, the more money they bring in.

It’s important to note that the video appeared on Twitter just three days after the film was released.
By then, many reviews and audience reactions were already out. The film had both positive and negative feedback, but none of the harsh reviews mentioned Ananya’s dance sequence as a problem. That’s because people who watched the whole movie understood the context and the intent behind the scene.

This is different from other films, like *Kartavya*, which faced backlash soon after its release on Netflix.
With *Chand Mera Dil*, there was no immediate outrage from theatre audiences. If the dance had truly offended viewers, the conversation would have started on Friday, not after a pirated clip came out two days later.

So, it seems more like an attempt to mock Ananya, Karan Johar, and Hindi cinema as a whole.
This group has been trolling other stars before—like Alia Bhatt’s Cannes appearance and Varun Dhawan’s casting in *Border 2*. Now, they’re targeting Ananya. Tomorrow, it might be someone else.

This constant online bullying has made people in the industry more cautious.
Many artists are now second-guessing their ideas before even trying something new, for fear of being mocked. As a result, filmmakers often stick to safe, tried-and-true stories. That’s ironic, because the same online voices ask, “Why doesn’t Bollywood try something new?”

Ananya’s dance in *Chand Mera Dil* may not work for everyone, and that’s totally okay.
But judging it without watching the full film, without context, and using an illegal clip isn’t true criticism. It’s another example of how social media can discourage creativity by rushing to criticize instead of understanding.

Ashoke Pandit CONFIRMS, “Farhan Akhtar has asked for Rs. 45 crores from Ranveer Singh after his walkout”; FWICE issues non-cooperative directive against the actor

Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit, President Birendra Nath Tiwari, and Hon Gen Secretary Ashok Dubey spoke to the media about the decision made by FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) regarding a complaint filed by Farhan Akhtar against Ranveer Singh over his alleged withdrawal from the film Don 3.

Ashoke Pandit explained, "Farhan Akhtar filed a complaint with IFTDA (Indian Film & Television Directors' Association), which I head.

 The complaint clearly stated that three weeks before the unit was supposed to leave the set, Ranveer withdrew from the film and left Don 3. Farhan joined the meeting via Zoom because he was in London, while Ritesh Sidhwani came to the IFTDA office. In the next two hours, they explained the issue and their reasons for approaching us. Following our protocol, we reached out to the other party. Every ten days, we reminded Ranveer three times to meet and share his side of the story. However, we did not get any response. When we announced the press conference, we received an email stating that our federation does not have authority over this matter. It said, 'Your body has no reason to get involved in this issue.'" 

Birendra Nath Tiwari added, "When a film is made, thousands of our workers are employed.

 And when a film is suddenly stopped, their jobs are affected. This causes a lot of damage. The federation fights for the workers’ rights and also supports the producers. We have never made decisions that are one-sided. If a producer is affected, we must stand by them." 

He continued, "We believe the message should go to the industry that no superstar is above the rules.

 Hence, we have issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer from this day onwards. We want to inform all the workers and associations that this directive will remain in place until the dispute is resolved and until Ranveer Singh meets with us. Since this is a matter involving the rights of a producer, we request the producer associations to also support us."

Ashok Dubey said, "None of our members will work with Ranveer, whether they are directors, cameramen, spotboys, lightmen, etc." Ashoke Pandit also mentioned, "It also includes ad films as it involves the same people from various associations and the same vendors.

"

When asked what Farhan Akhtar is demanding in terms of compensation, Ashoke Pandit replied, "Farhan is asking for Rs. 45 crores.

 This amount has been accounted for and audited. They have told him, 'This is the amount we have spent. You can check it, and if you find anything wrong, we are ready to accept it.'" 

He also said, "Farhan, Ritesh, Ranveer, and all our bodies are ready to sit together and reach a positive conclusion.

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Box Office Collections

INDIA BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Schedule Amount

Opening Day 3.50 cr.

End of Opening Weekend 17.15 cr.

End of Week 1 26.75 cr.

Lifetime Collection 30.90 cr.

DAY WISE BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Day Date Amount %±

Day 1 15-May-2026 (Fri) ₹3.50 cr. N/A

Day 2 16-May-2026 (Sat) ₹5.40 cr. +54.29%

Day 3 17-May-2026 (Sun) ₹8.25 cr. +52.78%

Day 4 18-May-2026 (Mon) ₹2.75 cr. -66.67%

Day 5 19-May-2026 (Tue) ₹3 cr. +9.09%

Day 6 20-May-2026 (Wed) ₹2.10 cr. -30.00%

Day 7 21-May-2026 (Thu) ₹1.75 cr. -16.67%

Day 8 22-May-2026 (Fri) ₹1.25 cr. -28.57%

Day 9 23-May-2026 (Sat) ₹2.90 cr. +132.00%

WEEK WISE BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Day Amount %±

Week 1 26.75 cr. N/A

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Day Amount %±

Weekend 1 17.15 cr. N/A

OVERSEAS BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Schedule Amount (in mil. USD)

Total Overseas Gross 0.65

WORLDWIDE GROSS BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Schedule Amount

India box office Nett cr. 30.90 cr.

India box office Gross cr. 36.79 cr.

Overseas Gross cr. 6.24 cr.

Worldwide collections Gross cr. 43.03 cr.

AUSTRALIA BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in A$) 

Screens Total Gross (in A$)

15-May-2026 27 25,908 22 25,908

GERMANY BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in EUR) 

Screens Total Gross (in EUR)

15-May-2026 89 2,581 35 2,581

MALAYSIA BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in MR) Screens Total Gross (in MR)

15-May-2026 39 5,716 1 5,716

NEW ZEALAND BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in NZD) Screens Total Gross (in NZD)

15-May-2026 10 41,258 18 41,258

UNITED KINGDOM BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in Pound) Screens Total Gross (in Pound)

15-May-2026 20 37,415 79 37,415

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BOX OFFICE COLLECTION

Date Rank Weekend Amount (in USD) Screens Total Gross (in USD)

15-May-2026 N.A. 160,656 N.A. 160,656

Ektaa R Kapoor calls Main Vaapas Aaunga ‘emotional and timeless’; praises Imtiaz Ali, Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina and A.R. Rahman

Producer-filmmaker Ektaa R Kapoor recently posted her thoughts on the upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga on social media after attending a special screening.

 

She gave a lot of praise to the film’s emotional story, the acting, and the music, and also thanked the director Imtiaz Ali and composer A.R. Rahman for their work on the project.

  

In a series of posts, Ektaa talked about how deeply the film affected her even before it officially released.

 "A film the world will see in June… I got to experience it in May. And let me tell you, even a month before its release, all I can say is: you have no idea what’s coming next!" she wrote.

She described the film’s premise, saying, "Main Vaapas Aaunga is a love story set during the Partition.

 It shows how different generations may think, live, and love differently… yet somehow, it all comes back to the same thing: you have to fall in love." She also shared how the film left her feeling emotionally moved. "It’s emotional, timeless, and stays with you long after it ends. It creates an unforgettable nostalgia. It makes you think about that one person you never got closure with… that one person you left with unfinished promises…" she added.

She continued, "That one person you know you’ll remember even on your last day.

 This film leaves you with a heartbreaking kind of love, the kind two people must have felt in a time without mobile phones or digital media… just longing, patience, and emotions that stay forever." Ektaa also praised the film’s creative team and cast. "Imtiaz Ali is in top form! A.R. Rahman’s music is pure magic!" she wrote before applauding Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.

What stays with you is Diljit Dosanjh’s restrained performance.

 He carries his emotions and duality in his eyes, playing a young man who doesn’t know how to express himself, what to commit to, or how to navigate relationships. But the surprise package of the film is Vedang Raina. What an amazing breakout performance! I had seen him in The Archies and liked him there, but here he’s in top form. He’s unbelievably charming, and as a sardarji, he’s going to win hearts! I’m really impressed with what he did in this film. Sharvari is absolutely beautiful on screen. Her eyes express every emotion with so much grace and honesty. She has such a strong presence, and she’s definitely someone we’ll look forward to seeing in many more films," she shared.

Praising Naseeruddin Shah, she added, "Naseeruddin Shah is simply an icon.

 Any words used to describe how good he is would feel inadequate because nothing truly does justice to the kind of actor he is. I can’t stop thinking about this film." She concluded by saying that the film stayed with her long after the screening. "So I still can’t get over the film I saw… It genuinely took me an entire day to think about what to write because I didn’t want to get a single word wrong."  

Set against the backdrop of the Partition, Main Vaapas Aaunga is expected to be a story of love and longing and is slated to hit cinemas on June 12.

Chand Mera Dil Box Office: Film opens on expected lines, collects Rs. 3.31 crores

Since Chand Mera Dil is an urban romantic drama focused on mature relationships and mostly targets urban youth, people expected it to start well and then possibly grow over the weekend, and then have steady performance during the weekdays to sustain its run.

 Getting between Rs. 3 to 4 crores would have been normal for this film, especially because in recent years, it has become really tough for most movies to attract audiences to the theatres.

The film actually opened within this expected range, earning Rs. 3.31 crores.

 Lower ticket prices also played a part, especially in the morning and afternoon shows. This is because at expensive multiplexes, especially in the evening and night, people are willing to pay more, so lower prices don’t make much difference. But at cheaper multiplexes, this strategy helps, and it will be interesting to see if the film continues this offer in the coming days, especially on weekdays, so that more people who are careful about how much they spend on going to the movies can come in in bigger numbers.

Meanwhile, the film starring Lakshya and Ananya Panday now needs a good jump starting from today.

 The film was made at a reasonable cost, and it has already made good money through other platforms like OTT, satellite and music. Still, when a film is shown in theatres, box office numbers have their own appeal, and reasonable numbers in the coming weeks will be important to watch.

Call Me Bae creator Collin D’Cunha says Chand Mera Dil features Ananya Panday’s “most mature” performance yet, “I couldn’t be prouder”

There was a time when Ananya Panday was mainly known for cute, fun roles that appealed to younger audiences. But in recent years, she has quietly changed how people see her on screen. Her new roles have focused more on showing real emotions and deep feelings. In fact, Ananya has slowly moved from being seen as a cheerful young star in Bollywood to an actress who is getting more praise for her emotional performances. According to the creator of Call Me Bae, Collin D'Cunha, her performance in Chand Mera Dil could be her biggest step yet.

EXCLUSIVE: Collin D'Cunha says Ananya Panday's performance in Chand Mera Dil is her most mature one so far, "I couldn't be prouder."

Speaking exclusively about Ananya's role as Chandni in the film, Collin said, "Ananya as Chandni is her most mature, most layered, most nuanced performance yet.

 She genuinely surprised me with the depth she brought to her character and with her silences and the restraint she showed. I didn't see that coming and I couldn't be prouder."

This statement is especially meaningful because Collin has already seen Ananya grow while working with her on Call Me Bae.

 While the series showed her talent for comedy and pop-culture roles, Chand Mera Dil seems to challenge her in a more emotionally intense way.

Discussions about Ananya in the industry have also changed over the years.

 Movies like Gehraiyaan and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan allowed audiences to see a more calm and natural side of her acting, moving away from the image she had when she first started her career.

This shift seems to continue with Chand Mera Dil, which is being promoted as a deep romantic drama centered on heartbreak, longing, and young love.

 She is paired with Lakshya, and her softer on-screen presence in the film's promos has already started conversations online. Many viewers are calling it her most emotionally grounded performance so far.

What stands out most in Collin's praise is his focus on "silences" and "restraint" — qualities often seen as signs of an actor gaining confidence in their craft.

 Instead of relying on big dramatic moments, the performance seems to find strength in emotional subtlety.

For an actress whose journey has always been under public attention, Chand Mera Dil could well become the project that marks Ananya Panday's move from a young Bollywood celebrity to a performer who is starting to be taken far more seriously.

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai trailer launch: Ramesh Taurani BREAKS silence on legal feud with Vashu Bhagnani: “There’s no problem…we are handling it”; Varun sings ‘Jeena Laga Hoon’ and asks, “Ramesh ji, iss gaane ke rights hai na

Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, Mrunal Thakur, David Dhawan, Ramesh Taurani, Anu Malik, Sameer, Maniesh Paul, Chunky Panday, Rajesh Kumar, Jimmy Sheirgill, Rajat Rawail, Ali Asgar, Girish Kumar, Kumar Taurani, writer Rumy Jafry and cinematographer Ayananka Bose attended the trailer launch of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai in Mumbai on May 23.

 The trailer launch was originally planned for May 21 but was postponed at the last minute. Varun started the event by talking about the delay.

Varun Dhawan said, Thank you to the media and fans for coming again.

 I really mean it, because you all came twice, even in this hot Mumbai weather. So, each of you will get Fast & Up and a free iPhone from Ramesh ji 

Maniesh Paul, in his usual style, joked, This is the first time in cinema history that a trailer launch had a rehearsal!

 You all came for the rehearsal, and it was great. And we are happy you made it for the real event too (smiles).

The film is involved in a legal issue after Vashu Bhagnani took the matter to court over the use of the songs Ishq Sona Hai’ and ‘Chunari Chunari.

 He claims that the songs are from his film Biwi No 1 (1999), so the makers of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai cannot use them. Tips, on the other hand, says they have the rights to use the songs.

Ramesh Taurani was asked about the case and he said, There is no problem at all.

 Whatever happened, it has been sorted out. And it will be sorted out again. So, there is no issue. Also, it is a sub-judice matter. Hence, we are handling it.  

Varun also hinted at the issue when the film team was being called.

 When it was time to call Girish Kumar, he said, “I want to sing one song for Girish. It’s my favorite song and I was listening to it in the car today.” Varun then sang ‘Jeena Laga Hoon’ from Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013), starring Girish.

After singing the song, Varun made everyone laugh by asking, Ramesh ji, iss gaane ke rights hai na?  Ramesh laughed and replied, We have all the rights! Maniesh Paul joked, if not, then we will have to come again!

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai releases in cinemas on June 5.