Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 12, 2017)

After a series of big-budget outings this year, Taapsee Pannu is looking forward to a busy 2018. Among an array of Pannu-starrers, it is speculated that three projects are scheduled to hit screens between May and July. The development, understandably, has irked the producers. Taapsee Pannu has Soorma, a biopic on Indian hockey player Sandeep Singh, Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk, and Tadka, a comedy by Prakash Raj, in the pipeline.

A trade insider says, “The three films are eyeing a release between May and July next year. Invariably, the producers are fighting for the first release.”

Given that the successive releases could imply audiences would tire of watching the actor on screen, the last to hit the marquee is likely to suffer losses. A source close to Pannu says that the actor hopes Mulk is the first to hit theatres since “she has the meatiest part” in that one.

Soorma, produced by Sony Entertainment, has already zeroed in on a June 29 release. However, announcements on the dates of Tadka, presented by Zee Cinema, and Mulk, which is also being produced by Sinha, are awaited. We tried to connect with the producers, but they remained unavailable.