Taapsee Pannu is currently receiving widespread acclaim for her portrayal of a lawyer in Assi. In a recent interview, she candidly spoke about confronting leading directors over their tendency to cast the same actors in similar roles. She explained that while audiences and filmmakers often remain comfortable with familiar choices, she makes a conscious effort to challenge that mindset.
Taapsee shared that during meetings with top directors, she first has to dispel the notion that she is only interested in leading roles. She clarified that she is open to projects where the story does not revolve around her and that she is keen to explore lighter, non-issue-based roles as well.
Questioning the industry’s repetitive casting patterns, she said it was unfair not only to actors like her who want to experiment with their craft, but also to those repeatedly chosen for similar parts. According to her, such complacency limits creative possibilities, as familiar faces often end up delivering variations of performances they have already presented, whereas she believes she can bring something fresh to the table.
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In another interview, Taapsee admitted that landing a big-budget film like Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan, was not easy for someone with her career trajectory. She described herself as neither a conventional commercial heroine nor a mainstream box-office staple, adding that she likely secured the role because the character demanded someone with her background. She views the opportunity as a reward for consistently choosing challenging films like Assi and Gandhari, which helped her carve a distinct identity in the industry.
Calling Dunki a ‘gift’ earned over a decade of hard work, she acknowledged the ongoing struggle of being perceived in glamorous, commercial roles despite having started her career in mainstream South Indian films and later working in Hindi cinema with directors like David Dhawan, Anubhav Sinha, and Anurag Kashyap. Taapsee emphasised that while her audience may be niche, she values the trust she has built with them, describing that space as her true home ground.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Assi is a courtroom drama that tackles the sensitive issue of sexual assault and the pursuit of justice. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Satyajit Sharma, with special appearances by Seema Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, and Naseeruddin Shah.
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