A dance clip from the upcoming film Chand Mera Dil has taken over social media, with viewers divided over Ananya Panday’s experimental Bharatanatyam fusion performance.

The now-viral scene shows Ananya’s character mixing classical Bharatanatyam movements with hip-hop-inspired choreography, including locking techniques, while co-star Lakshya watches during the sequence. Although the performance appears to aim for a modern reinterpretation of classical dance, the internet has responded with a flood of memes, criticism and debate.

Several trained Bharatanatyam performers and dance enthusiasts have questioned the execution of the routine, arguing that the choreography failed to respect the discipline and structure of the classical form.

Among the strongest reactions came from noted dancer Anita R Ratnam, who criticised the sequence on social media. She described the performance as a distorted understanding of Bharatanatyam and suggested that the choreography lacked the precision, grace and technical foundation traditionally associated with the dance style.

Ratnam further argued that Bharatanatyam is deeply rooted in discipline, rhythm, expression and geometry, and said the film’s interpretation reduced the form into something chaotic and superficial. Her comments quickly gained traction online and became part of the larger debate surrounding the clip.

Another classical dancer, Krithika Sivaswamy, also voiced disappointment over the portrayal. She accused mainstream entertainment of treating Indian classical arts carelessly and said the sequence reflected a lack of sensitivity towards traditional dance forms.

As criticism continued to build online, one of the assistant choreographers associated with the film shared a different perspective from behind the scenes. Ananya R Kurup posted photos and training videos from the rehearsals while praising Ananya Panday’s dedication during the preparation process.

In her post, Kurup described the actor as warm and hardworking, adding that teaching her Bharatanatyam for the film had been a rewarding experience. She also congratulated the actress for her effort in pulling off the challenging routine.

Directed from a story developed by Vivek Soni and Tushar Paranjape, Chand Mera Dil marks the first on-screen pairing of Ananya Panday and Lakshya. The film also features music by Sachin-Jigar.

Ananya was last seen in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri alongside Kartik Aaryan, while Lakshya recently appeared in The Ba***ds of Bollywood.