Ananya Panday says she doesn’t believe in hookup culture, prefers 90s‑style romance

Ananaya Pandey

Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has shared her personal stance on modern dating, rejecting the idea of hookup culture and expressing a preference for a more traditional form of romance. Speaking at the trailer launch event for her upcoming film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera, the actor said she believes in 90s‑style love stories and does not connect with contemporary casual dating trends that are often referred to as hookup culture.

Ananya, who stars opposite Kartik Aaryan in the film, described herself as a deeply family‑oriented person who places high importance on emotional connection and long‑term commitment in relationships. She explained that her idea of romance involves not just a bond between two individuals but also the joining of families, saying she hopes her partner’s family becomes her own—reflecting values she grew up with.

“I love my family, and I want my partner’s family to become my family too,” Ananya said, highlighting how important unity and togetherness are to her concept of love. She made it clear that while many today embrace changing definitions of relationships and casual connections, she personally resonates more with the depth and emotional investment typical of classic love stories.

She further explains that her concept of romance is inspired by the past, particularly the charm of 90s love stories, and that modern casual dating trends do not appeal to her. She does not subscribe to the hookup culture prevalent in 2025. She said, “I’m a very 90s love story person, I don’t believe in the 2025’s hookup culture.”

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The actress also mentioned that this traditional view of love helped her relate closely to her character Rumi in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera, where sincerity and emotional depth in relationships are central themes.