Ananya Panday ADMITS her first period scared her; says, “I thought something was wrong with me”

Ananya Panday a young and talented Bollywood actor, has recently opened up about her first-period experience. The actor, who has been making headlines with her relatable personality and vulnerability, has shared a heartfelt story about how her mother and grandmother helped her overcome her fears and stigma surrounding menstruation.

Ananya Panday opens up on her first period

In a recent interview with News18, Ananya Panday revealed that when she first got her period, she was scared and confused because no one had prepared her for it. Her classmates who had also experienced menstruation were hush-hush about it, which made Ananya feel like she was the only one going through this.

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Talking about it, she said, “When I had just started acting, one of my friends asked me if I shoot even when I’m on my period. We don’t have a choice. Life has to go on. For me, some days are easy and I don’t even remember that I’m on my period and on other days, it’s really tough. It’s difficult on days when there are no bathrooms and you need to wear a certain kind of an outfit and that can get really uncomfortable.”

“It’s important that you talk about it and have a conversation with your director or the crew without being ashamed of it. You’ve to tell them that you need a clean washroom where you can change. In my personal experience, speaking up has really helped. You’ve to ask for what you need and I’ve seen that they’ll give you even if that makes a few men around you uncomfortable,” she states.

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Ananya Panday on periods and menstruation conversation

Agreeing to it, Ananya recalls, “I’m the older child and I got my periods before my younger sibling and at that time, there wasn’t much of a conversation about it at home. A few girls in my class had already gotten their periods before I did but it was kept very hush-hush.”

“When I got my first period, I remember being in school and I didn’t understand what had happened to me because no one had spoken to me about it. When I went home, I was very scared because I thought something was wrong with me and that I had hurt myself. I didn’t know what was happening. But my mum and my daadi gave me gifts and they told me that this is a moment to celebrate. I think everyone should deal with it in this way and take the shame away from it,” she recounts.

Ananya on education and awareness of menstruation

Stressing the need for educational institutions to spread awareness and knowledge surrounding menstruation, Ananya asserts, “Over time, conversations began around period at school. They introduced a subject, which was about health. They spoke to both the boys and the girls about what happens when girls go through a period and how their bodies change. I think this is something that has to be included as part of the curriculum. So, both at home and at school, things changed when it was my sister’s turn and she knew what happens when you’re on your menstrual cycle.”

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Ananya Panday recently joined hands with Whisper. As the brand unveils the launch of its latest product, Whisper Ultra Upto No Gap No Leaks. This partnership aims to lead a conversation about the real period problems women and girls go through and find solutions for the same. Ananya emphasized the importance of addressing menstruation openly and honestly, especially among young girls and their families. She believes that by doing so, we can reduce the stigma surrounding this natural part of life. And it could make it easier for girls to navigate this significant milestone.

Ananya Panday’s projects

Apart from being an actor with impressive skills and versatility, Ananya’s willingness to share her personal experiences has earned her a special place in the hearts of her fans. Her recent projects, including Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, CTRL, and Call Me Bae, have received critical acclaim. Upcoming films like Shankara and Chand Mera Dil will see her collaborating with established actors like Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan.

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