In an industry that loves a trend, it often takes one clean swerve to remind everyone why originality still matters. On March 7, 2026, Ananya Panday weighed in on Bollywood’s habit of chasing whatever just worked, and she used an unlikely reference point to make her case: Malayalam blockbuster Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, led by Kalyani Priyadarshan.
Speaking in a conversation that also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ananya called out the copycat cycle that kicks in the moment a film clicks, and argued that someone has to “break the clutter” before the audience tunes out.
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In the interview, Ananya put it plainly: “There is a need to break the trend of chasing a success formula.”
She also offered a specific example of how quickly the industry can fall into repetition, saying, “When Saiyaara came out and became a blockbuster success, everyone was like let’s make Saiyaara.” Kareena, in the same discussion, agreed with the larger point and noted that the same rush has been visible with the horror genre.
Ananya added that typecasting can be just as limiting as trend-chasing. She said she was getting offered only a certain kind of part, explaining, “I was getting only films about Gen Z and social media.” Pointing to Kalyani’s film as a reset, she said, “So you need someone like how Kalyani did in Lokah. You need someone to kind of come and break the clutter.”
She also underlined what the film’s success signifies for women-led commercial cinema, saying, “There is proof that a woman can be a superhero with Lokah.”
Why Lokah Became The Reference Point
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is a Malayalam superhero film written and directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under Wayfarer Films. The film reimagines the folklore figure Kalliyankattu Neeli through a modern superhero lens, with Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead. Naslen and Chandu Salim Kumar feature in key roles, with cameo appearances by Dulquer Salmaan and Tovino Thomas.
The film released theatrically in 2025 and went on to become the first Malayalam film to cross the Rs 300 crore mark worldwide, turning its woman-led superhero pitch into a genuine industry talking point.
Ananya Panday’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Ananya’s recent run has leaned into youth-skewing, digital-age stories, including Netflix’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), where she starred alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav. In 2024, she headlined CTRL, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, and also appeared in Bad Newz (2024).
Looking ahead, her next confirmed theatrical release is Chand Mera Dil, a romantic drama starring Ananya opposite Lakshya, scheduled to release on May 8, 2026.
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