Taapsee Pannu on not getting commercial films after Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki: 'Talent isn’t enough’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Taapsee Pannu is known for niche, hard-hitting cinema, but the star had a brush with mainstream Bollywood when she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan in his 2023 movie Dunki . Compared to Shah Rukh's previous outings, Pathaan and Jawan, Dunki's performance at the ticket-window was seen as relatively subpar. However, for Taapsee it was the biggest commercial success of her career.
Adding to this, Taapsee Pannu spoke about mainstream cinema. In a recent interaction, the star spoke about how the movie did not lead to her being cast in more mainstream films and why she believes talent alone is often not enough to land such projects.
Meanwhile, In conversation with News18, Taapsee argued that female leads in mainstream films are often inconsequential and replaceable. She shared that actresses who have stronger industry connections and greater visibility tend to have an advantage when it comes to bagging such roles, something she feels she lacks.
Notably, She shared, “I feel that all actors are replaceable. It’s not like ki yeh role iske ilaava koi aur kar hi nahi sakta. They may do it differently but I think everyone can pull off every role. But the female characters in these so-called mainstream and commercial films are ones that can be played by anyone. And the basis of landing these roles isn’t your talent It’s your market, saleability, contacts, visbility, presence and influence. All of these factors more than an star’s talent come into play. And I know it for a fact that I’m lagging behind when it comes to these factors. The only basis on which I can get a movie is my talent. The only reason I got to work on Dunki is because Raju sir had seen my work. He puts his foot down for me."
As per the latest buzz, Taapsee gave full credit to Rajkumar Hirani for casting her in Dunki and for making what she described as an unconventional casting choice. She also admitted that such instances are not very common in the industry, which is why she feels she has not gone on to land more big-ticket mainstream films.
In further updates, She added, “Usually, the characters in a commercial movie aren’t significant enough and so, it doesn’t matter which star is playing the part. If an star fits into their budget and has a certain market value, they immediately cast her. Mainstream films that cast an star purely on the basis of talent are far and few. And directors like Raju sir, who are so sure of the star they want, are even fewer."
On top of that, Taapsee was last seen in Gandhari, which follows a mother's relentless pursuit to find and rescue her kidnapped daughter. The movie explores themes of revenge and redemption as she embarks on a harrowing journey to bring her daughter home. Gandhari received mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences.
Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times