Call Me Bae: Five Dialogues That Capitalise On Nepotism & Privilege

Ananya Panday’s new prime special series 'Call me bae' screams colourful, ambitious and feminine energy. But anyone who thinks the show is meaningless rainbow and cotton candy themes will be in for a surprise. The show also stars Vihaan Samat, Muskkaan Jaferi, Vir Das and Mini Mathur in lead roles. Their storylines entwine every now and then with Bae or Bella Rajvansh or Bella Chowdhary or wait, wait... Bella Rajvansh Chowdhary? You can just call her bae! 

Bella’s coming into her own as Bae, which is also her Instagram handle and gives her the most definite sense of identity is the underlining of the show. Each episode is an impending tale of how she sheds her surname and the underlying privilege that comes with it. She becomes Bae! 

But, don't let this riches-to-rags trope overshadow the fact that the entire show through Bella’s character capitalizes on nepotism, economic and elite privilege and urban girl-spoilt child themes. All in all, everything that Ananya Panday is criticised for in real life, the show gains strength and storylines from it. How? Let’s see.. 

5 Statements from Bella Chowdhary AKA Ananya Panday that capitalize on her real-life privilege:

"I was born with a golden spoon"

One of the opening statements of the show is Bae recognising and being proud of her privilege. She is born into the family of Rajvansh, their improbable family business can feed the next 10 generations to come. But Bella knows her privilege, she does not overlook it. Ananya is known for a similar attitude, for which she is appreciated. Do you remember one of her first interviews on Koffee With Karan when she said, “I don’t deserve to be here, there are many people out there who may be more talented than I am. I am extremely lucky..” 

"Auto Rickshaw me seat belts nahi hote kya? Oh, so it’s like a Mini Cooper but more breezy." 

Bae hilariously compares an auto rickshaw with a Mini Cooper. A Mini Cooper is a BMW vehicle with a starting price of Rs 50 lakh. When she sits in an auto rickshaw for the first time she asks her friend Saira, played by Muskkaan Jaferi about any safety features such as seat belts in it. To which she replies, NO. Haha, poor Bella. Obviously, only ironically poor. This statement feeds on the South Delhi/Bombay privilege AP is usually subjected to publically. 

Bella: I will stay in Mumbai.

Samar Bhai: So what will you do, a job?–   

Bella: Yes, I will get the job. And unlike you, I’ll do it without the family name.

Hmmm, Ananya says she will make it on her own without the family name. Some may see it as ironic and a funny idea and others may realize it as a clever ploy to instill the struggles elite family children may go through to become successful.

"Waise toh news channels hamare liye kaam karte hain, but I have studied journalism…Social Media Journalism."

Bollywood Babies or Star Kids are often suspected of getting fancy PR done. This keeps them in the news and gets them in and out of controversies as they please, so is suspected. Ananya in her manifestation as Bella lavishly puts it out in the open. She says so when The Real People (TRP) News Channel approaches her for an internship. They inquire about her experience asking if she’s worked for a news channel before. She reveals the power dynamics that exist between elite families and media and says the latter works for the former instead. 

"White bread???!!! I thought ye eradicate ho gaya from the world like polio."

Sorry bae, but this statement screams ignorance and insensitivity. Though polio has been greatly reduced in the world, it has not been eradicated. And to compare it to a food item, the white bread was kinda unfair. But it suited Bella’s character and did not seem out of place at all. Her character is not supposed to be aware of complex medical problems that do not inhabit urban areas. For her, carbs are the most worrisome thing on the planet. 

Views expressed are the author's own.