Taapsee Pannu responds to criticism of picking frivolous comedy Judwaa 2 after acclaimed women-centric outings like Pink and Naam Shabana
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 29, 2018)

A scan at her repertoire of films is sufficient to ascertain that Taapsee Pannu has made calculative choices to ensure she gains recognition among a wide range of audiences. The actor came under the scanner for picking a frivolous comedy like Judwaa 2 (2017) after her notable acts in women-centric films like Pink (2016) and Naam Shabana (2017). But Pannu is certain that her stint in the Varun Dhawan starrer exposed her to a different set of eyes, the kind that “wouldn’t understand Pink”. “With Judwaa 2, I captured the kind of market that I could have never penetrated into on another occasion. There is an entire audience that doesn’t understand the theme of Pink. That is the base that I have to capture. I would want to ask the people who lashed out at me for choosing this film why is it that Pink or Naam Shabana did not earn Rs 100 crores. If those films made as much money as Judwaa 2 did, I would not need to do the latter,” Pannu tells mid-day in the midst of promotions of her next, Dil Juunglee.

The actor’s urge to “be seen” stems from her desire to draw a bigger audience towards the kind of cinema she wishes to be part of. “I need people to see me and like me so that I can get the chance to do more empowering roles. It’s math. By being part of films like Judwaa 2, I can ensure that I garner more fans, who’d then want to watch me in other powerful films. I need to be bankable for those movies to reach the right audience too.”

Giving the nod to a frivolous comedy was also essential as Pannu was wary of being pigeonholed early into her career. “This industry is quick to stereotype. People had started talking about how I was primarily being part of women-centric movies. I didn’t want to be labelled as part of a mahila morcha. I would want to have the option of singing and dancing as well.”

Slipping into de-glam roles also implies that viewers were quick to distance the notion of beauty from Pannu. “People now tell me, ‘Aap real mein toh kaafi sundar dikhtey ho’. It’s evident that they don’t count your work as legit unless you appear glamorous. And these people comprise a huge market.”