India, May 28 -- In the recently released Chand Mera Dil, actor Ananya Panday has sparked debate after a clip of her performing a Bharatanatyam 'fusion' drew strong reactions online. Many users criticised the interpretation of the classical dance form, while several exponents described the performance as "catastrophic". Amid the backlash, actor Chunky Panday has come out in support of his daughter. "I think people completely misunderstood it. It was never meant to be pure Bharatanatyam. It was a fusion performance, the kind of experimental dance you often see college students perform at social or cultural events. People assumed it was traditional Bharatanatyam and started judging it from that lens," he said in his recent interview with ETimes. Explaining the intent and creative concept behind the performance, he added, "But pure Bharatanatyam requires years and years of rigorous training, almost 20 years of discipline and precision. It's extremely technical and structured, almost robotic in its movements and expressions. This (Ananya's performance) is a fusion of futuristic, advanced dance forms with elements of traditional dance. It's a creative blend, not a classical recital. I would request people to watch the film and understand the context before reacting." In the film, Ananya stars opposite Lakshya as Chandni, the daughter of a Bharatanatyam dancer portrayed by Charu Shankar. HTC...