India, May 29 -- Bollywood actor Ananya Panday has been facing backlash on social media for her Bharatanatyam fusion dance sequence in her recent release, Chand Mera Dil. Several Bharatanatyam dancers criticised her moves and, amid the controversy, dancer and choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, who has mentored Ananya in the past, came out in support of the actor. (Also Read: Ananya Panday's on-screen mother Charu Shankar explains that trolled Bharatanatyam scene: 'Mockery not okay' | Interview)

On Friday, Sandip Soparrkar took to Instagram to defend Ananya amid the criticism. He wrote, "The outrage against Ananya Panday's Bharatnatyam dance is absolutely rubbish. The same so-called gatekeepers of classical dance who are screaming today were...