It is common for Bollywood superstars to share profits of their films instead of charging an astronomical fee. However, in probably a first for any heroine in the male-dominated glamour industry, Taapsee Pannu has shared the profits of her recently released Telugu film Anando Brahma.

She reveals, “The budget of a film is usually determined by the hero or the director; the heroine isn't taken into account. However, there were no big names or a hero associated with this film. The producer and director were also fairly new, but I believed in the story and its potential. I didn't want to let go of the project just because it was a small-budget film and I won't be paid my usual fee. Since nobody wants to work without expecting any returns, I decided to share profits made by the film. I was ready to take the onus of the film. Though they initially suggested that I charge less money, they finally accepted my proposal.“

Taapsee is seeing this as an attempt to break stereotypes - heroines usually not being the front-runners on their projects being one of them. “I have always wondered about the notion that people in the South film industry have about North Indian girls. They believe that we make inroads in the South industry only for fame and money. We are also accused of not promoting our films. I genuinely wanted to change these notions and shocked everybody by spending around 10 days to promote the film. I kept calling it the biggest gamble of my life. Now they will know why.“

Ask her if she would do the same in Bollywood, and she replies, “I have reached where I have in South films after seven years. It will take me a while in Bollywood, but I don't see why not. I just need to consolidate my space in the industry.“