Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 11, 2017)

After having vociferously spoken about the need to empower women on several occasions, Taapsee Pannu is set to feature in a video that will further the cause. The actor will be seen in Break The Hashtag, an initiative by a beauty brand, that hopes to shun stereotypes associated with beauty. The video’s concept can be derived from the title, says Pannu. “The idea is to shun traditional stereotypes. The video will highlight that beauty is defined by the person you are, not physical appearance.”

A source tells mid-day that the track will reflect various aspects of Pannu’s personality, including her determination and fighting spirit. “Taapsee will mouth a few lines of the rap song, but will essentially narrate a powerful monologue,” the source says, adding that the actor has also given creative inputs. “She intends to highlight that beauty isn’t uni-dimensional, as the industry suggests.” Pannu says that her journey to stardom is testimony that women can excel in multiple fields.

“I’ve been an engineer and actor, and that dual success can be a definition of beauty. This will also reflect in the song,” she says about the Reuel Benedict composition, which has been written by Divya Palat, and sung by Palat and Sahirah Oshidar.