Taapsee Pannu - The Girl Next Door

If one had to study Taapsee Pannu’s career graph, it would be clear that this actor is unafraid of challenges. A self-made artist, she talks to Shraddha Kamdar about her journey, why she picks the roles she does, wage gap, and the biggest influence in her life.

- Shraddha Kamdar

As soon as I pass my phone to her to record the interview, she lays the mood quipping, “Don’t worry, I’ll answer the call if it rings. I have done it before!” Even though she hasn’t been on the receiving end of pranks as much, she admits to having a sarcastic sense of humour. “Very often, people don’t get it, and take what I say literally. I play along, and stretch it until I have had my fill of fun!” One can’t help but wonder that the actor who has brought to life the restrained Minal in Pink, the intense Shabana in Baby and Naam Shabana, the shrewd Naina in Badla, and the conflicted Rumi in Manmarziyaan, would derive pleasure out of pulling someone’s leg! Evidently, the effervescent Taapsee Pannu does.

A die-hard Robert Downey Jr fan, she admits to have cried while watching Avengers: Endgame, since his character (Iron Man) passes away. As strange as it may sound, Pannu decided to become an actor after her first film released. She looks back at where she came from, and how bizarre her journey has been. Over to her.

How did you land your first film, Jhummandi Naadam?

I was modelling, and the pictures were circulated. Around the same time, filmmakers down South were looking for fresh faces, and I was approached for the lead role in the Telugu film, Jhummandi Naadam. I instantly said yes. For me, it was a way of trying something new, which I do even now. We have one life; we can do so much! I took up the opportunity with zero knowledge about films, acting, or the language. I did whatever I could to the best of my capability, learning from the people around me. The response to my first film in both Tamil and Telugu was phenomenal; that led to other opportunities.

How did you manage the work without knowing the language?