Ananya Panday Shares Rare London Photo With Aarav Bhatia — Muffins, a Baking Caption and Why Fans Noticed
It was not a film announcement, not a red carpet, and not a party look. It was a quiet photo of two people, a box of muffins, and one line about baking — and that is exactly why it travelled so fast. Ananya Panday reshared a photo from her London vacation with Aarav Bhatia, the son of Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, and fans noticed at once, because Aarav is almost never seen like this. Here is what the photo actually shows, where it came from, and what is confirmed versus what is only talk.
Quick answers first
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | Ananya Panday and Aarav Bhatia |
| What happened | Ananya reshared a photo of the two together during her London vacation, sitting side by side with homemade muffins |
| Where the photo came from | Originally posted by their friend Tahira Chawla, then reshared by Ananya on her Instagram Stories |
| The caption | “Guys, my baking is approved.” |
| What they are wearing in the photo | Aarav in a grey patterned cardigan over a dark shirt, holding a clear container of muffins; Ananya in an oversized brown zip-up hoodie with “Mad lucky” in blue |
| When it was reported | October 23, 2026 |
| Confirmed or buzz? | Confirmed: the photo, the reshare, and the caption, as reported by Bollywood Hungama and Zoom TV. Buzz: any reading beyond a casual moment between friends |
What the photo actually shows
As per Bollywood Hungama, Ananya reshared a photograph that was originally posted by her friend Tahira Chawla. Tahira appears to have baked the muffins in the picture. In it, Ananya and Aarav are seated next to each other, with Aarav holding a transparent container filled with muffins, while Ananya poses with small pieces of the treat in both hands. Zoom TV's report adds the same detail: the picture was taken during a casual gathering while the two were vacationing in London, and Ananya reposted it to her Instagram Stories with the caption, “Guys, my baking is approved.”
That is the whole moment, and it is worth saying plainly: nothing in the photo, the caption, or the reports says anything more than that. It is a friends' baking moment on a vacation, shared by Ananya herself. Anything beyond that is people reading into a picture, not something either of them has said.
Why a simple photo became news
The reason is Aarav, not the muffins. As per Zoom TV and Bollywood Hungama, Aarav has largely kept a low public profile, even though he comes from one of Hindi cinema's most prominent families. He has not pursued a film career, he rarely appears in public or on social media, and he has generally chosen to stay away from media attention and keep his personal life private.
His father has spoken about that choice before. As per the reports, Akshay Kumar has said on several occasions that he does not want to impose his own career choices on his children, and that Aarav wants to build an identity of his own rather than be recognised only through his famous father. Zoom TV notes that Aarav, born on September 15, 2002, as the eldest child of Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, has remained notably detached from the film industry, and is only occasionally seen at family events.
So when a rare, casual photo of him surfaces — not at a film event, not on a red carpet, just sitting with friends over baked treats — it stands out. That is the story here: a rare glimpse, not a launch, not an announcement.
Who Ananya is, in brief
Ananya, daughter of actor Chunky Panday and Bhavana Pandey, made her Bollywood debut with Student of the Year 2 in 2019, as per Bollywood Hungama. Since then she has appeared in Pati Patni Aur Woh, Khaali Peeli, Gehraiyaan, Dream Girl 2, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and CTRL, and she has also worked in streaming with the series Call Me Bae.
On the work front, as per TezzBuzz, she was last seen in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri alongside Kartik Aaryan and Chand Mera Dil with Lakshya. She will next return as Bella Bae Chowdhary in Call Me Bae Season 2, which will also feature Shruti Haasan. The first look was unveiled at Prime Video's Obsessed Retreat in Germany, while details about the storyline and Shruti's character remain under wraps. During a Zoom call with fans earlier this year, Ananya teased more drama and romance in the new season, and said Bae has matured since the first season.
She is also set to make her hosting debut at the IIFA Awards 2027, joining Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan and Maniesh Paul, as per AndhraVilas and the IIFA reports covered on this site.
Our verdict
Confirmed: Ananya reshared a London vacation photo with Aarav Bhatia, originally posted by their friend Tahira Chawla, with a caption about her baking being approved — reported by Bollywood Hungama, Zoom TV and others on October 23, 2026. Buzz: any claim about what the photo means beyond a casual friends' moment is not in the reports and not from either of them, so we are not carrying it as fact. Aarav's low profile is the reason the photo travelled; it is not, on its own, a sign of anything else.
