After over a decade of playing diverse roles, the actress reflects on carving her own path in Hindi cinema
Taapsee Pannu, who turned a year older on Friday, opens up about choosing the tougher road and what frives her choices.
After a stormy prolonged phase of breaking the glass ceiling, you seem to be in a quiet space!
I have been reading scripts which seem very similar in terms of character, story and genre to what I’ve done before. Over 13 years in Hindi cinema, having covered a wide range, the space for something new has naturally reduced. It takes a lot more filtering now to find something different. Over the last couple of years, it’s been especially hard to pick the next project. Take spy thrillers for instance, everyone’s excited about them now, but I did those 8-9 years ago with Baby and Naam Shabana. Just because most of the industry has woken up to it now doesn’t mean I should repeat myself. I’ve already reaped the benefits of it and moved beyond.
Would you consider ‘Pink’ the turning point in your career?
Yes. I never thought it would become such an important film. When I heard the script, I felt it would be special—but I didn’t know it would be so revolutionary. At that time, I didn’t even know Mr. Bachchan was going to be part of it.
After Pink, the Mumbai film industry’s attitude changed. I am one of the few female actors who can fearlessly lead a project. The scripts I get are all driven by the female character—and they’re not tiny-budget films anymore. They fall in the medium-budget space, and producers know the kind of cinema I represent. I’m also glad there’s a bunch of actresses now who can lead a film without a big male star to draw in audiences.
You have made a career of shouldering films.
It’s actually a stressful burden to bear. There’s too much pressure, too many judgments, and very little credit. You’re more criticised than appreciated for taking that position. When I speak to people in the industry, I realise many still believe a leading actress shouldn’t be in the driver's seat of a film.
Does it bother you that you are not counted alongside the commercial queens?
I’ve moved past the stage of worrying about what others expect from me. I’m clear about wanting to do work that excites me and makes me feel comfortable. I want to be an integral part of my films, and for the audience to see the risks I take. I know I've chosen the difficult path-one that doesn't bring easy appreciation-but I’m not here for short-term wins. I’m in it for the long run.
