The success of Pink has marked the arrival of Taapsee Pannu, the actress. Her powerful portrayal of Minal, an independent woman who stands her ground against the hypocritical society, has been the highlight of the film.Here, she opens up on life after Pink.

Did you expect this kind of response to the film?
We knew it's a good film but the magnitude of response was unexpected.It moved people to tears. Of the many messages I got, what touched me the most was a woman saying what she couldn't teach her teenaged daughter in 14 years, the film taught her in two hours. When your job touches people so deeply, it's a great feeling.

Also, what makes it special is the fact that the film portrays the times we live in.
It holds a mirror to our society. More than women-centric, it's the 'need-of-the-hour' film.

It seems you've now arrived in Bollywood...
My mom's first reaction after watching the film was, “Wow, you can act!“ It took a while for people to believe that I can do substantial roles. I'm happy to play characters that are not mere arm candies. I am not a trained actor, don't have a godfather, haven't signed deals with big studios and yet, here I am.

How similar are you to your character in Pink?
I'm unapologetic and headstrong in real life as well. I'm from Delhi, and given how eve-teasing is common there, your experiences make you courageous. Also, I was sick of the way Delhi girls were portrayed in films. We are neither over-the-top in our dressing, nor do we use cuss words.

Did the film drain you emotionally?
I actually started believing that something bad had happened to me. I took off for a few days to get over the intense character.