Ananya Panday's Unseen Side: The Akshay Kumar Co-Star Who Once Dreamed of Becoming a Doctor

Fate has its own mysterious ways — especially in Bollywood, where many stars end up in front of the camera despite having entirely different dreams. One such actress is Ananya Panday, who celebrates her 26th birthday on October 30. Known for her youthful charm and confident performances, Ananya’s journey to stardom was far from what she or her family had initially planned.

Born into the Panday family, Ananya was raised in an environment closely connected to films, with her father, Chunky Pandey, being a well-known Bollywood actor. However, before stepping into the world of cinema, Ananya had an entirely different dream — she wanted to become a doctor. Inspired by her grandfather, the renowned heart surgeon Dr. Sharad Pandey, Ananya once aspired to study medicine and even considered becoming a veterinarian.

Dr. Sharad Pandey was a celebrated figure in the medical field, having been part of the team that conducted India’s first-ever heart transplant surgery at Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial Hospital in 1988. He was also known for his expertise in bloodless heart surgeries and had earned his Master’s degree in Surgery from Canada. Watching his dedication and compassion deeply influenced Ananya during her childhood.

However, destiny had other plans. When Ananya received an offer to act in films, she decided to take a leap of faith, putting her medical aspirations behind her. Her Bollywood debut came in 2019 with Student of the Year 2, and she hasn’t looked back since. Recently, she impressed audiences with her performance alongside Akshay Kumar in Kesari: Chapter 2, earning praise for her growth as an actress.

Despite her success in films, Ananya has remained grounded in her family values. She shared a close bond with her grandmother, who passed away in 2021. Even today, she remembers her fondly on birthdays and family milestones, once writing that her grandmother would have been overjoyed by her brother Ahaan Panday’s achievements.

From dreaming of saving lives in an operating room to winning hearts on the silver screen, Ananya Panday’s story is a beautiful reminder that while we can plan our lives, sometimes destiny scripts its own blockbuster.