Ananya Panday steps into the spotlight with "Call Me Bae," a breezy and light-hearted series that places her firmly in the world of OTT entertainment. The series, released on Amazon Prime, marks a significant shift in Panday's career as she embraces a role that is both vibrant and unapologetic, aligning well with the show's overall tone.
"Call Me Bae" follows the life of Bae, a young and affluent socialite who finds herself navigating the tumultuous waters of life after a scandal forces her to reassess her priorities. Ananya Panday, who portrays Bae, delivers a performance that is pitch-perfect for the character—a blend of naivety, charm, and an endearing sense of self-discovery. The series is a coming-of-age tale wrapped in the glitz and glamour of high society, but it’s Panday’s nuanced portrayal that adds depth to the otherwise sanitized storyline.
The film's creator Ishita Moitra, director Collin D'Cunha, and co-writers Rohit Nair and Samina Motlekar carve out an unabashedly sanitized, gradually significant tone. Like what Ishita achieved with Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh) in Karan's blockbuster from last year, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Rocky remains the West Delhi ka launda at heart from start to finish, yet you see an evolution within. Comparably, Bae does not act like Poo bani Parvati; instead, she just goes with the flow, accepting whatever life throws at her, as opposed to adopting the attitude of Kangana Ranaut's Queen, "mera toh itna vida kharab ho gaya."
While "Call Me Bae" succeeds in delivering a fun and breezy experience, it does so at the cost of depth. The series avoids diving too deep into the more serious aspects of Bae's journey, opting instead for a more surface-level exploration of her character. However, this light-hearted approach is likely to appeal to audiences looking for an easy watch rather than a heavy drama.
"Call Me Bae" may not be groundbreaking, but it achieves what it sets out to do—provide an entertaining and visually appealing series that showcases Ananya Panday's strengths as an actress. Her portrayal of Bae is confident and refreshing, making this series debut a notable step in her career. Fans of light-hearted drama with a dash of glamour will find "Call Me Bae" worth their time.
