In a heartwarming turn of events, actress Ananya Panday was overcome with emotion on the set of "Kaun Banega Crorepati 17" (KBC 17) after receiving high praise from Amitabh Bachchan for her performance in "Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh". Panday appeared on the show alongside co-star Kartik Aaryan to promote their upcoming romantic comedy, "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," scheduled for release on December 25, 2025.
During the episode, the conversation shifted to Panday's role as Dilreet Gill in "Kesari Chapter 2," a film based on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where she starred alongside Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan. Bachchan, known for his insightful observations and genuine appreciation of talent, commended the 27-year-old actress for her restrained yet impactful portrayal of a lawyer fighting for justice.
Bachchan noted that despite sharing screen space with seasoned actors, Panday held her own and delivered a memorable performance. He specifically praised her ability to convey the emotional depth of her character through her expressions, particularly her eyes, despite having limited dialogue. "I told her that the movie had many famous actors; everyone did a great job," Bachchan said on KBC 17. "While working with such legendary actors, Ananya performed her role very well...Her dialogues were limited, but the way she expressed through her eyes… We are all in the same profession; we are informed three months earlier, let it be about our roles, dialogues, and everything else".
He further elaborated on the importance of authenticity and ease in acting, stating, "When it is time for the shoot, it should make our audience realise the importance of the situation or a particular scene. It should be realistic and should be delivered with ease. It is quite a tremendous task. That's where an actor will turn legendary. I felt that when I watched you".
Panday was visibly moved by Bachchan's words, a moment captured and later shared on her Instagram account. In the post, she described Bachchan's praise as "the biggest moment of any actor's life" and expressed that she would "cherish [his] words forever".
"Kesari Chapter 2," directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, was released on April 18, 2025. A spiritual sequel to the 2019 film "Kesari," it delves into the story of C. Sankaran Nair, played by Akshay Kumar, who fought against the British Raj to uncover the truth about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Panday played Dilreet Gill, a young law student assisting Nair, while R. Madhavan portrayed Advocate Neville McKinley, representing the British Crown. The film is based on the book "The Case That Shook The Empire" by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat.
While the film received negative reviews and underperformed at the box office, it was lauded for its gripping storyline and stellar performances and is now available on JioHotsar. At the 56th IFFI 2025, it won Best Debut Film of a Director.
Panday's upcoming film, "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," is a romantic comedy marking her second collaboration with Kartik Aaryan after "Pati Patni Aur Woh".
