Karan Johar on Ananya Panday's character in 'Call Me Bae' : If Rohan & Poo from 'K3G' ever had a kid......"

Ananya Panday, is all set to charm audiences in Amazon Prime Video's latest offering, Call Me Bae. This highly anticipated series introduces us to Bella Chowdhury, or Bae, a character that embodies the high life of South Delhi's elite but is soon forced to navigate the challenges of a more ordinary existence. Backed by Karan Johar's Dharmatic Entertainment, the show promises to be a rollercoaster of fun, fashion, and unexpected emotional depth. After a series of unfortunate events, Bae's credit cards are frozen, and she is shunned by her family. With no other option, she moves to Mumbai, where she must adapt to a middle-class life—a stark contrast to the opulence she once knew. In a bid to prove her worth and regain her lost stature, Bae takes up a job at a news channel, immersing herself in the hustle of everyday life. The show is a refreshing take on what happens when the high and mighty have to come down to earth.

At the trailer launch event, Karan Johar, known for creating iconic characters in Bollywood, spoke highly of Bae, drawing parallels between her and some of his most memorable creations. He elaborated on how Bae fits into the pantheon of beloved characters like Rocky, Poo, Anjali, and Raj. Johar suggested that Bae might just earn a special place in the hearts of fans, saying, "So I can say that if Rohan Raichand and Pooja, after almost 23 years of K3G would have a kid, it will be Bae. Ananya as Bella fits perfectly for that, and that's the best way that I can describe it."

Karan Johar further explained how Bae, much like Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, starts off as a character wrapped in fun and games but eventually contributes significantly to the emotional gravitas of the narrative. He pointed out that while Call Me Bae may initially appear as just another fashionable, hip show, it carries with it substantial depth, thanks to the brilliant writing by Ishita Moitra and her creative team.

For Ananya Panday, playing Bae has been an exciting journey, one that resonates deeply with her. During the press conference, she reflected on the influence of iconic characters like Poo, saying, "Growing up, there was obviously, you know, Poo is iconic. I literally dressed up as Poo two years ago. Even now, at 23, I'm dressing up like Poo." This nostalgia reflects how much of an impact such characters have had on her, both personally and professionally.

Ananya went on to share that Bae is a character she genuinely loves and that she hopes the audience will feel the same way. She described Bae as "a mix of Schitt's Creek, Clueless, A.I.S.H.A., Nancy Drew," blending elements from these beloved shows into a character that, while reminiscent of many, is entirely her own. "Even though Bae has a bit of all of these characters, she's like a fully normal person. She's all actions, and she's all heart, and she's a lot of fun, so I hope people love her as much as I do," Ananya added, clearly passionate about the role.

The trailer for Call Me Bae cleverly addresses a past controversy involving Ananya, where a line she once said about her struggles in the industry became a viral moment. In the show, there's a playful dig at this, with Bae glaring at a security guard who parrots a similar line. Addressing this during the launch, Ananya candidly admitted, "You know, honestly, firstly, we've made fun of that line ourselves, we've kind of owned up to it. I said it so long back, I said it five years ago, I really struggle with answering this question now. Honestly, I'm done with that. But I think I'm just trying to keep my head down, work, and I hope people like my work. And there's no struggle; I'm doing fine."

With Call Me Bae, Ananya Panday steps into a role that not only challenges her but also allows her to showcase a blend of light-heartedness and emotional depth. Having recently appeared in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Bad Newz, and with her upcoming digital-era thriller CTRL on the horizon, Ananya is proving that she is more than just a pretty face—she's an evolving talent ready to take on diverse roles. The show is all set to stream on Amazon Prime Video from 6th September onwards.