Bollywood actor Chunky Panday has revealed that people now recognise him as Bhavana Panday’s husband and also ask him to click their pictures with her, thanks to the success of the Netflix series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives.

“Look at me, I was once upon a time Chunky Panday. Then I became Ananya Panday’s father. Now I am Bhavana Panday’s husband,” Panday, who starred in hit films like Vishwatma and Tezaab back in the ’80 and ’90s , said during a conversation with Cyrus Broacha on the latter’s podcast Cyrus Says recently.

Panday shared an amusing anecdote about being recognised by an air hostess who knew him solely from the Netflix reality TV series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and not for the films that he has worked in.

The actor also shed light on his journey into the digital space, venturing into web series after the OTT boom. He revealed that he had received several offers of appearing on the reality show Bigg Boss but he always declined because he cannot “share the bathroom with anyone”.

Speaking about his acting career, Panday said that he has “reached a stage where he can practically get away with anything”. He attributed this to the iconic character Aakhri Pasta that he played in the Houseful franchise. “He’s got the license to thrill. He can commit anything and just say ‘I’m joking’ and get away with it.”

Reminiscing about his early days in the industry, he revealed that the seed of acting was planted in his head by a casting director he had met in Los Angeles when he was 19. He described how he came across a Spanish lady, a casting director who gave him her business card. Panday, however, decided to come back to India and try his luck in acting.

Speaking about his upcoming projects, Panday said he has just finished shooting a film with Neena Gupta and Rakulpreet Singh. He will also be seen in an upcoming web series based on the film industry. Panday said he has shot for a dacoit drama set in the 1960s and YRF’s Vijay 69 alongside Anupam Kher.