Bhavana Pandey gained immense popularity after she appeared in the Netflix series, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. A costume designer by profession and a renowned ‘Bollywood Wife’, Bhavana’s decision to marry Chunky Panday was a whirlwind of a journey that also highlighted the insecurities that came with stepping into the glitzy world of Bollywood.
Bhavana Pandey recently opened up about her life in an interview with Siddharth Kannan. She talked about her insecurities, her marriage to Chunky Panday, and becoming a mom. Bhavana said she was really scared to tell her parents about Chunky. She had to stand up to her dad, which wasn't easy. Her parents didn't know much about the film world and were worried about her career if she moved to Mumbai. But Bhavana was determined and married Chunky anyway.
When the couple tied the knot in 1988, it was overwhelming for Bhavana to get used to the showbiz that she got pushed into overnight. Talking about their marriage, Bhavana recalled:
“With us, things moved really fast. I did have insecurities when I got married to Chunky because I had only seen him outside of his atmosphere… So when I moved here, I went through insecurities because I suddenly came in a line which was full of beautiful and successful people and you want to make that extra effort to be liked by them. I also wanted that Chunky should be proud of his wife.”
Bhavana shared in the same chat how marrying the Aankhen actor during the lowest phase of his career was a rollercoaster ride. However, it all comes down to how well both partners treat each other’s insecurities. Chunky’s lowest phase strengthened their bond as a couple who were united against the hardships. She recalled:
“In my case, Chunky made me feel extremely comfortable. It was also the time when he was at the lowest phase of his career so we were more like a unit than him flying on his own. I supported him a lot in my own way from the house.”
Bhavana further shared that despite her initial insecurities as an outsider in Bollywood, she didn’t have much time to continue being the insecure wife of a successful actor. Before they knew it, Bhavana got pregnant with her first child, Ananya Panday, which was not on their checklist that soon. Mentioning that Ananya was born “exactly after nine months, sixteen days of our wedding," Bhavana said:
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“It was completely unplanned. Things happened very fast. So instead of being an insecure wife and successful husband, we became parents to a baby girl. So, there were insecurities but because of the circumstances and him making me feel comfortable, he taught me that I don’t have to be afraid of anything.”
Today, Bhavana and Chunky Panday are one of Bollywood’s most-loved couples and proud parents to Ananya and Rysa Panday. Bhavana found lifelong friends in Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan and her Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives co-stars — Maheep Kapoor, Seema Sajdeh, and Neelam Kothari. She fondly shared how SRK has been like a father figure to her daughters, often prioritizing their needs over his own kids.
What do you think about Bhavana Pandey’s revelations?
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