The daughter of Alanna Panday and Ivor McCray, baby River, celebrated his first birthday on July 8, 2025. Social media has been flooded with heartwarming wishes and adorable snapshots of the little one, but one message, in particular, stood out: a loving tribute from his "Maasi," actress Ananya Panday.
Ananya, known for her close bond with her family, including cousin Alanna, has never shied away from expressing her affection for River. From sharing pictures of cuddle sessions to playful moments, she often gives her fans glimpses into her role as a doting aunt. It's clear that River holds a special place in her heart.
On River’s first birthday, Ananya took to Instagram to share a touching post dedicated to her nephew. She included a carousel of photos and videos capturing some of their sweetest moments together. One picture showed Ananya holding River, playfully mimicking his adorable expressions. Another captured a serene moment with the baby sleeping peacefully in her lap. A particularly heartwarming video showed River dozing off in Ananya’s arms.
Along with the photos, Ananya penned a heartfelt message, calling River the "apple of her eye." She reminisced about the past year, marveling at how quickly he had grown and all the joy he had brought into their lives. She expressed her excitement for all the milestones to come and promised to always be there for him, showering him with love and support.
Ananya's Instagram post quickly went viral, with fans and fellow celebrities showering River with birthday wishes and praising Ananya for her loving bond with her nephew. Many commented on how radiant and happy she looked in the pictures with River, noting that her love for him was evident.
In previous months, Ananya has shared other glimpses of her "Maasi duties" with River. In May, she posted a video of herself trying to feed him juice, laughing as he playfully chewed on the sippy cup instead of drinking. Earlier in the year, she shared a series of photos calling River her "little koala baby" and expressing how much she missed him.
Alanna Panday and Ivor McCray welcomed River on July 8, 2024, sharing the joyous news on Instagram with a heartwarming reel. Ananya reposted the clip, expressing her excitement about her "beautiful baby boy nephew." The family celebrated River's first birthday with an intimate celebration, planning the theme and venue in a vlog that featured Ananya and her sister Rysa visiting to meet with River. During the visit, Ananya was seen feeding River and calling him adorable names.
On the professional front, Ananya has been enjoying a successful year. She was recently included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list alongside Ishaan Khatter. Her film 'Kesari Chapter 2', where she stars alongside Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan, has been well-received. She is also set to appear in the upcoming romantic film 'Chand Mera Dil' with Lakshya, directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, slated for release later this year.
