Bollywood
Ananya Panday Exits Abhay Verma Starrer Choomantar Amid Scheduling Conflicts with Call Me Bae 2
Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has officially opted out of Maddock Films' upcoming fantasy-romance drama, Choomantar.According to reports from Mid-Day , the decision was driven by a significant scheduling conflict. The production for Choomantar is slated to begin in January 2026, a timeline that directly clashes with the filming schedule for the highly anticipated second season of her hit web series, Call Me Bae.Sources close to the production revealed that while Ananya was keen to work with the Stree 2 and Munjya producers, the overlapping dates made it impossible to commit to both projects simultaneously. Ananya Panday's commitment to Call Me Bae 2 took precedence as the show has become a major franchise for Amazon Prime Video.Following the success of the first season, the second installment went on floors in late 2025.Directed by Collin D’Cunha, the new season is set to delve deeper into the themes of sisterhood and the Behencode that resonated with audiences.With the shoot extending into early 2026, Ananya and the makers of Choomantar mutually decided to part ways, reportedly on amicable terms, with a promise to collaborate on a future project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Choomantar, which stars Munjya fame Abhay Verma in the lead, has already moved forward with casting changes following Ananya's departure. The film, directed by Tarun Dudeja (known for Dhak Dhak), is a genre-bending mix of science fiction, comedy, and romance.Reports indicate that the makers have restructured the female lead roles. South Indian sensation Sreeleela and Vash actress Janki Bodiwala are now expected to join the cast opposite Abhay Verma.Workshops for the film are scheduled to begin shortly, with principal photography targeting a January kick-off. Despite this exit, Ananya Panday remains busy with a packed slate. Aside from her work on Call Me Bae 2, she has other high-profile projects in the pipeline, including Dharma Productions' Chand Mera Dil opposite Lakshya. Meanwhile, Abhay Verma continues his rise in the industry, with Choomantar marking another major collaboration with Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films after his breakout success in 2024.
