Chunky Panday visits Vadodara, calls himself 'a kid in a candy store'
Synopsis
Chunky Panday's impromptu Vadodara trip — captured in a joyful Instagram reel complete with sweets, fan selfies, and a Dhurandhar soundtrack — is a reminder of the actor's effortless off-screen charm. Fresh off reprising Aakhri Pasta in Housefull 5, Panday appears to be riding a comfortable wave of nostalgia and renewed public affection.
Key Takeaways
Chunky Panday shared an Instagram reel documenting his return to Vadodara , describing the experience as being 'a kid in a candy store.' The video shows him in a multicoloured T-shirt, turban, and jeans, posing with fans and sampling local sweets.
He used the track 'Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan' from Dhurandhar as the reel's background score.
Housefull 5 , in which he reprised Aakhri Pasta , released in cinemas on 6 June 2025 and on Prime Video on 1 August 2025 .
The film was released in two versions — Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B — with different climaxes.
Panday made his film debut in 1987 and rose to prominence with Tezaab (1988) .
Veteran actor Chunky Panday recently made a much-anticipated return to Vadodara, a city that clearly holds a warm spot in his affections, sharing his delight with fans through a lively Instagram post that quickly drew attention.
The Vadodara Visit
Taking to Instagram, Panday wrote: 'So Happy to be Back in Baroda. I was like a Kid in a Candy Store Vadodara.' The video shows the actor stepping out of his car dressed in a vibrant multicoloured T-shirt, jeans, and a turban, posing cheerfully for photographs with fans and sampling local sweets. He set the clip to the track 'Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan' from the film Dhurandhar as background score.
A Social Media Favourite
Panday is known for his consistent and candid presence on social media, regularly offering fans a window into both his personal and professional life. From comedic behind-the-scenes moments to family milestones, his posts routinely generate warm engagement — the Vadodara reel being a fresh example of the easy relatability that has kept his fan base loyal across decades.
Housefull 5 and the Aakhri Pasta Legacy
On the professional front, Chunky Panday recently reprised his beloved character Aakhri Pasta in Housefull 5, which released in cinemas on 6 June 2025. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the comedy-thriller featured an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan. The film arrived in two distinct versions — Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B — each carrying a different climax, a novelty for mainstream Hindi cinema.
The film subsequently premiered on Prime Video on 1 August 2025, extending its reach to streaming audiences.
A Career That Spans Four Decades
Panday entered the film industry with the 1987 multi-starrer Aag Hi Aag, appearing alongside Neelam Kothari. He rose to wider recognition the following year with his portrayal of Babban in Tezaab (1988). After years in action-oriented and supporting roles through the late 1980s and 1990s, he reinvented himself as a comedy mainstay from the 2000s onwards — a transition that has proven remarkably durable, as the continued Housefull franchise run attests.
Point of View
But it signals something worth noting: actors who cultivate an authentic, self-deprecating social media persona consistently outlast peers who treat it as a promotional obligation. His Aakhri Pasta run in the Housefull franchise — now five films deep — is one of Hindi cinema's more unlikely longevity stories. The dual-climax format of Housefull 5 was a theatrical experiment; whether it translated to streaming numbers on Prime Video remains to be seen, but Panday's personal brand appears unaffected either way.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chunky Panday visit Vadodara?
Chunky Panday visited Vadodara for reasons he described as a joyful personal return to a city close to his heart. He shared the experience on Instagram, writing that he felt 'like a kid in a candy store' during the trip.
What did Chunky Panday do during his Vadodara visit?
During his visit, Panday stepped out of his car to pose for photographs with fans, savoured local sweets, and filmed a reel set to the song 'Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan' from Dhurandhar.
What is Housefull 5 and when did it release?
Housefull 5 is a comedy-thriller directed by Tarun Mansukhani featuring an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan. It released in cinemas on 6 June 2025 and premiered on Prime Video on 1 August 2025, in two versions with different climaxes.
Who is Aakhri Pasta?
Aakhri Pasta is Chunky Panday's recurring comic character in the Housefull franchise, which he has reprised across multiple instalments including Housefull 5. The character has become one of the franchise's most recognisable running gags.
How long has Chunky Panday been in Bollywood?
Chunky Panday has been active in Hindi cinema since 1987, when he debuted in Aag Hi Aag. He gained wider recognition with Tezaab in 1988 and has sustained a career spanning over three decades, transitioning from action-oriented roles to comedy.
