Ananya Panday Defends Karan Johar, Denies Allegations of Shielding Star Kids.
In the latest episode of Raj Shamani’s podcast, rising Bollywood star Ananya Panday has addressed the long-standing perception that filmmaker Karan Johar ‘protects’ his close associates, particularly star kids, from criticism.
Ananya, who shares a close bond with Johar and has worked on projects backed by his production house, has categorically denied these allegations, stating that the acclaimed director is, in fact, the first one to “pop the bubble” and provide constructive criticism.
Addressing the notion that Johar creates a “protective bubble” around his protégés, Ananya was unequivocal in her response, stating, “Not at all.
He is the first one to pop the bubble. Rather than feeding us, ki yeh karna hai woh karna hai (telling us to do this or that), he’s just there as a strong pillar of support.”
The young actress further revealed that Johar is often the first person to reach out to her if he’s not satisfied with her performance or remarks made by her in interviews, underscoring his commitment to ensuring his mentees remain grounded and accountable.
Ananya’s comments come amid the ongoing scrutiny faced by Johar and other industry insiders over their alleged favoritism towards star kids, a perception that has sparked much debate within the film fraternity.
The 24-year-old actress, who has collaborated with Johar on projects like the web series “Call Me Bae,” has emerged as a vocal proponent of the director’s approach, emphasizing his desire to prepare his protégés for the harsh realities of the industry.
