Ananya Panday defends Gen Z against stereotypes at leadership summit
The actor said the generation is often judged unfairly and has a different definition of success than previous generations.
Actor Ananya Panday defended Gen Z at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026 on Saturday, stating the generation is "badnaam (infamous) for no reason." Speaking at a session featuring filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and moderated by Sonal Kalra, Panday addressed perceptions regarding hard work and effort, according to the Hindustan Times.
Panday said that while there is a sense that young people do not want to fight for success, it is because their definition of success is different. She noted that while earlier sentiments required mental and physical slogging, success can now be achieved in many different ways.
Addressing nepotism, the 28-year-old actor said, "I am very proud to be my father's daughter." She expressed a desire to help open doors for others and make film sets safer for the next generation of men and women entering the industry.
The actor also discussed her acting aspirations, describing herself as a "greedy actor" who wants to play every kind of character, including comedy and roles that require crying onscreen. She noted that seeing various types of movies meet with success provides reassurance for the industry.
During a quick-fire round, Panday identified "cancel culture" as a modern-day obsession the world could do without, noting that even small mistakes can lead to people being shunned. She concluded by sharing her motto, "YOLO."