Siddhant Chaturvedi has weighed in on Anurag Kashyap's recent remarks concerning Ananya Panday and the impact of Chaturvedi's 2019 "struggle" comment on her career. Kashyap suggested that Chaturvedi's words served as a catalyst for Panday, pushing her to take her acting profession more seriously and make bolder choices.

The comment in question originated during a 2019 roundtable interview with Rajeev Masand, where Ananya Panday, discussing the experiences of being a star kid, mentioned her father Chunky Panday's lack of appearances on shows like 'Koffee With Karan'. In response, Siddhant Chaturvedi offered a perspective on the privilege gap in Bollywood, stating, "The difference is where our dreams are fulfilled, their struggle begins". This quote quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussions about nepotism and drawing considerable attention and trolling towards Panday.

In a recent interview, Anurag Kashyap praised Ananya Panday as one of his favorite "nepo kids," alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. He suggested that Chaturvedi's remark had a profound impact on Panday, leading to a shift in her approach to acting. Kashyap highlighted her performances in projects like 'CTRL', 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan', and 'Gehraiyaan' as examples of her artistic evolution, noting that she is taking risks and experimenting with her roles. He also addressed the broader issue of nepotism, suggesting that parents sometimes inadvertently restrict their children's choices.

Chaturvedi, while promoting his latest work, addressed Kashyap's comments, clarifying that his original remark was made sincerely and was not intended as a personal attack. He emphasized that he was simply highlighting the existing privilege gap within Bollywood.

Interestingly, Chaturvedi and Panday have since collaborated on projects like 'Gehraiyaan' and 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan'. Chaturvedi mentioned in a 2022 appearance on 'Koffee With Karan' that his comment, though initially controversial, actually served as an ice-breaker and marked the beginning of their friendship.

Furthermore, when asked about his opinion on Ananya, Siddhant stated that Ananya was always an actress and that he had no contribution to her career growth after the comment. He clarified that she got those opportunities because of her own talent.

Ananya Panday is currently filming 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' with Kartik Aaryan, slated for a 2026 release, while Anurag Kashyap is preparing for the Telugu film 'Dacoit'.