In a recent interview, Ananya Panday, the Bollywood actress, shared her perspective on love and relationships in the modern era, expressing a preference for traditional romance over the contemporary hookup culture. The actress, known for her roles in "CTRL" and "Call Me Bae," made these remarks during the trailer launch of her upcoming film "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," where she stars alongside Kartik Aaryan. The film is scheduled to release theatrically on December 25, 2025.
Panday described herself as a deeply family-oriented person who values emotional connection, commitment, and the blending of families in a relationship. "I love my family, and I want my partner's family to become my family too," she stated, emphasizing the importance of togetherness and long-term bonding. She further added that her idea of romance is rooted in the past. "I'm a very 90s love story person," she mentioned, making it clear that casual dating trends do not resonate with her. "I don't believe in the 2025's hookup culture".
This preference for traditional love is also one of the reasons she closely relates to her character, Rumi, in "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri". According to the actress, the emotional depth of the character mirrors her own values when it comes to love and commitment.
In a candid conversation with Forbes India, Panday shared her vision of a settled life, including marriage, children, and a home filled with dogs. When asked about her five-year goals, the 26-year-old actress responded, "Hopefully married. And have a happy, settled home, planning babies, and lots of dogs".
Panday's personal life has been a topic of interest, especially amid rumors about her relationship with Walker Blanco, a former model. Speculation intensified after Blanco posted a heartfelt birthday message for Panday last year, writing, "Happy Birthday Beautiful!!! You are so special. I love you Annieee". The couple was first spotted together at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding in July 2024. Reports indicated that Panday introduced Blanco as her "partner" at the event.
In a recent interview, Panday also reflected on the importance of space in a relationship, stating, “I think it is quite healthy sometimes to have some space. I think 45 days of not meeting someone is good enough. I don't think it is too bad. Two months is okay. Distance does make the heart grow fonder". She also opened up about how she used to change herself for the sake of her partner in past relationships, but has now grown to be more comfortable with herself.
Professionally, Ananya Panday is currently filming the second season of "Call Me Bae" and is also preparing for the release of "Chand Mera Dil" with Lakshya Lalwani.
