Ananya Panday — Bollywood's bubbly Gen-Z star — has gone from a much-talked-about debutante to one of the most bankable young names in Hindi cinema in just seven years. From Student of the Year 2 (2019) to the acclaimed Gehraiyaan, the hit web series Call Me Bae and a scene-stealing turn in Kesari Chapter 2 (2025), she has steadily proved she is far more than a famous surname. She turned 28 on 30 October 2026, and her brand value keeps climbing — Kroll's Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 ranked her No. 19 with a brand value of $48.5 million.
Here is the complete biography: her age, family, career, movies, awards, net worth, and what comes next in 2026 and beyond. If you enjoy reading about young Bollywood stars, also check out our biography of Janhvi Kapoor.
Ananya Panday Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ananya Panday |
| Born | 30 October 1998, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Age | 28 years (turned 28 on 30 October 2026) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years Active | 2019 – Present |
| Father | Chunky Panday (actor) |
| Mother | Bhavana Pandey (costume designer) |
| Sister | Rysa Panday (younger) |
| Grandfather | Sharad Panday (heart surgeon) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm approx., reported) |
| Education | Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai; briefly studied at the University of Southern California, USA |
| Debut Film | Student of the Year 2 (2019) |
| Known For | Student of the Year 2, Gehraiyaan, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Call Me Bae, Kesari Chapter 2 |
| Awards | Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut (2020) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Unverified media estimates around ₹74 crore (see below) |
Early Life and Education
Ananya Panday was born on 30 October 1998 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into one of Bollywood's best-known families. Her father is actor Chunky Panday, a popular star of the late 1980s and 1990s, and her mother Bhavana Pandey is a costume designer and entrepreneur. She has a younger sister, Rysa Panday, and her grandfather Sharad Panday was a renowned heart surgeon.
Growing up in Mumbai, Ananya attended the prestigious Dhirubhai Ambani International School, where she studied alongside other star kids. She briefly enrolled at the University of Southern California in the United States before returning to Mumbai to prepare for her acting debut. Before films, she made headlines in 2017 when she walked the red carpet at Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris — a debutante ball for young women from prominent families — which first introduced her to the public eye.
Career: From Debutante to Leading Lady
A Star-Kid Debut (2019)
Ananya made her Bollywood debut with Karan Johar's Student of the Year 2 (2019), opposite Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria. The film was a commercial success and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut in 2020. The same year, she followed it up with the comedy Pati Patni Aur Woh, opposite Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar, which also did well at the box office.
Finding Her Footing (2020–2022)
Her next films tested her range. Khaali Peeli (2020), opposite Ishaan Khatter, released directly on OTT during the pandemic. Then came a turning point: Shakun Batra's relationship drama Gehraiyaan (2022), where she starred alongside Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Critics praised her mature, restrained performance as Tia, and the film marked her arrival as a serious actor. The same year, she made her Telugu debut with Liger, opposite Vijay Deverakonda — the film underperformed, but it widened her audience in the South.
Breakthrough Years (2023–2025)
2023 brought two well-received projects: the comedy Dream Girl 2, opposite Ayushmann Khurrana, and the coming-of-age drama Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, reuniting her with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav, which won praise for its honest take on friendship and social media. In 2024, she headlined the Netflix thriller CTRL and charmed audiences as Bella "Bae" Chowdhary in the Amazon Prime Video series Call Me Bae, a fashion-centred comedy that became one of the year's most talked-about streaming shows.
Her most acclaimed performance yet came in Kesari Chapter 2 (2025), the courtroom drama opposite Akshay Kumar, where her supporting turn as a young lawyer won her the Best Supporting Actress honour at the Pinkvilla Screen and Style Icons Awards in 2026.
Family
Ananya comes from a close-knit Bollywood family. Her father Chunky Panday has acted in over 80 films across Hindi and Bengali cinema, while her mother Bhavana Pandey runs the fashion label LoveGen and is a well-known face on the reality show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. Her younger sister Rysa Panday keeps a lower profile and is studying abroad. Her uncle Chikki Panday is a businessman, and her aunt Deanne Panday is a wellness coach; their children — YouTuber Alanna Panday and actor Ahaan Panday — are her cousins. Ananya often credits her parents for keeping her grounded despite growing up in the film industry's spotlight.
Beyond Films: So Positive and Brand Power
Off screen, Ananya is known for So Positive, the anti-bullying initiative she founded in 2019 to raise awareness about social-media bullying — a cause close to her heart after facing online negativity herself as a teenager. She is also one of Bollywood's most in-demand brand faces, endorsing more than 30 brands, and she became Chanel's first Indian brand ambassador.
Ananya Panday Net Worth (2026)
Ananya Panday has never officially disclosed her wealth, and no audited figure exists. Unverified media estimates generally put her net worth at around ₹74 crore (about $9 million), with reports suggesting she charges roughly ₹3 crore per film and around ₹50–60 lakh per brand endorsement. These are unverified media estimates, not official figures, so treat every number you see online with caution.
It is worth noting that her brand value — a different measure — is much higher: Kroll's Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 estimated it at $48.5 million, ranking her No. 19 among Indian celebrities, up from No. 25 the previous year. Her wealth comes from film fees, a large endorsement portfolio, and investments including a reported apartment in Bandra West, Mumbai.
Relationships
Ananya is unmarried and keeps her personal life largely private. She was previously reported to be in relationships with actor Ishaan Khatter and later actor Aditya Roy Kapur, and more recently with model Walker Blanco — reports in August 2026 said the two had parted ways after nearly two years together. As of late 2026, she has no publicly confirmed current partner.
What's Next in 2026 and Beyond
Ananya's slate stays busy. She is reuniting with Kartik Aaryan for the romantic drama Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, directed by Sameer Vidwans, and she has the romantic film Chand Mera Dil, directed by Vivek Soni, in the pipeline. Work is also underway on a second season of Call Me Bae, her hit streaming series. With a Filmfare debut award already on her shelf and a string of varied roles, Ananya Panday's second act in Bollywood looks bigger than her first. For more on her co-star, read our biography of Kartik Aaryan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ananya Panday's age in 2026?
She was born on 30 October 1998 — 28 years old as of November 2026.
Who are Ananya Panday's parents?
Her father is actor Chunky Panday and her mother is costume designer Bhavana Pandey.
What was Ananya Panday's debut movie?
Student of the Year 2 (2019), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
What is Ananya Panday's net worth?
No official figure exists. Unverified media estimates put it at around ₹74 crore (about $9 million).
Is Ananya Panday married?
No, she is unmarried, and as of late 2026 she has no publicly confirmed partner.
What is Ananya Panday's most famous role?
Her breakout roles include Student of the Year 2, Gehraiyaan, the series Call Me Bae, and Kesari Chapter 2 (2025).
What is Ananya Panday's height?
Around 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm), as commonly reported.
What are Ananya Panday's upcoming movies?
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri with Kartik Aaryan, Chand Mera Dil, and Call Me Bae season 2 are in the works. For her full film list and career details, see her profile on Filmibeat.
Final Thoughts
In seven years, Ananya Panday has travelled from "star kid" labels to genuine stardom — winning a Filmfare debut award, earning critical respect for Gehraiyaan and Kesari Chapter 2, and building one of the strongest brand portfolios of her generation. At 28, with Call Me Bae season 2 and two big films ahead, she is no longer just Chunky Panday's daughter — she is Ananya Panday, a star in her own right.
