A black donkey named Chunky Panday reportedly sold for ₹72,000 at the annual Chitrakoot fair, becoming the highest-priced donkey reported at the 2026 gathering. The sale in Madhya Pradesh put an unexpected Bollywood twist on a traditional market where traders use celebrity names to draw attention.

Animals named after Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Mithun Chakraborty also appeared at the fair, but reportedly fetched less than ₹50,000 each. The ₹72,000 price was the highest reported for a donkey this year, not a historical record for the event.

Why Chunky Panday's Namesake Drew the Biggest Donkey Price

The animal's black coat and strong build helped it stand out among the donkeys on sale. The New Indian Express reported that pricing at the fair depends on physical characteristics, including breed, height, body structure and strength. A celebrity name may catch a visitor's eye, but there is no proof that the name alone caused the final bid. The donkey named Chunky attracted competing offers before the reported sale was completed. For traders, the attention surrounding the "Chunky donkey" illustrates how a familiar Bollywood label can make an ordinary livestock transaction a national talking point.

What Did the Bollywood Actor Say?

Hindustan Times contacted Chunky Panday about the unusual namesake, and the actor responded with amusement. He described it as an honour and joked that "any news is good news". He also said friends had been forwarding him news clippings about the sale. The actor recalled seeing celebrity names used in commercial promotions for decades, including at barber shops. He even mentioned a burger named after him. His response was playful rather than offended, adding a second wave of interest to a story that had already travelled beyond the livestock market.

Inside the Chitrakoot Donkey Fair

The annual market takes place near the Mandakini River in the Chitrakoot area of Madhya Pradesh, close to the Uttar Pradesh border. Traders travel from several states with donkeys and mules, while visitors gather to watch negotiations and inspect the animals.

Local accounts connect the fair's origins to the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. That history is part of the event's traditional narrative, rather than a fully documented account of its foundation. The habit of using Bollywood names is a modern attraction; reports do not establish when it began. The donkey named Chunky was this year's reported leader, but higher prices have been recorded at earlier editions. Contemporary reporting from 2025 described donkeys called Shah Rukh and Sunny Deol fetching ₹1.05 lakh, so the latest sale should not be described as a new all-time high.

A Funny Story With a Serious Trading Background

For Chunky Panday, the episode was an amusing addition to a film career that began in 1987. For the sellers and buyers, however, the market is about working animals, their condition and their usefulness as much as their entertaining names.

Organisers have also voiced concern about declining interest among younger generations. The "Chunky donkey" may have brought fresh publicity in 2026, but the fair's future rests on more than celebrity-inspired bids. The best-supported conclusion is simple: one unusual sale drew attention to a longstanding animal market, and the actor whose name was borrowed enjoyed the joke.