Why Ananya Loved Playing Bae

Ananya Panday admits she was drawn to play the protagonist in her new Web series Call Me Bae for its Kareena connection.

"I've grown up loving Kareena Kapoor's Poo from K3G, Cher from Clueless and Alexis from Schitts' Creek. To be able to play a character that is a tribute to all of my favourites, while being wonderfully original herself, has been a dream come true," Ananya tells Subhash K Jha.

"I feel grateful that a show like Call Me Bae came to because it is the kind of material I've grown up watching and belongs to my favourite genre, which is a mix of chick flick, romance, drama and loads of fun.

"When Karan (Johar, Producer) spoke to me about the show and then I went on to read the episodes, I was completely sold on the fact that even though the genre is so light, the show speaks about important and relevant issues in today's times," she says.

Ananya had fun shooting for Call Me Bae but admits it was challenging too.

"The most challenging part for me was that it's my first time headlining a series," she says.

"OTT, due to its long format, really gives you an opportunity to explore a character in a way you may not be able to in the 120 minutes or so you have in a film where most of your backstory becomes subliminal. I really hope people enjoy the show so that I can play Bae for more seasons.

"There are many similarities in Bae and me but I think there are more differences in us and that's why it was so much fun to play her and almost escape into her world where I looked at everything around me in the way that she does. She's kind to everyone and sees the best in people. She never lets life get her down."