Taapsee Pannu on why she’s never linked with her co-stars and how she hopes to start a trend of a women-led festival release
Ankita Charuasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 5, 2019)

Saand Ki Aankh is your first Diwali release. Feeling the heat?
Irrespective of the outcome, Bhumi (Pednekar) and I have decided to enjoy the last 20 days to the release. Yes, there’s a lot of pressure since this is the first time that we’ve been entrusted with such a big responsibility but it’s an auspicious time. We kickstarted promotions during Navratri and our film opens on Lakshmi pooja. It was necessary to take the first step towards a women-led festival release and I hope it starts a trend.

So, you and Bhumi are being trendsetters, like the women you play onscreen…
Yes, the Tomars, Chandro and Prakashi, were raised to be docile, homely women, who, for most of their lives, hid behind the ‘ghoonghat’, within the four walls of their home, letting their father, husband and sons decide for them. For them to step out, pick up a gun and hit the bullseye is a statement in itself. Their spunk adds humour to the film because they never viewed life as a struggle, not once do you feel sorry for them. If their story doesn’t inspire us, what will?

What was your first reaction to the script?
I was thinking about my mother who has never lived for herself and now that her daughters are settled and she’s turned 60, she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t even have hobbies. This film is for women like her who think they are too old to start something new. It’s for their families to realise that they chose to dedicate their lives to them, it was not a given.

You seemed quite at home in the Tomars’ village?
My summer vacations were spent in a village in Punjab and I was completely at home. And our stay there was more luxurious than any five-star with buckets of hot water for me to wash up after shooting and everything served with freshly churned butter. My mom, who had never visited a film set before, stayed with me for two weeks and now she and the daadis are chatting and exchanging recipes on Whatsapp all day.

Have you watched the film?
I didn’t want to watch it on the editing table but Anurag (Kashyap, producer) did and called to say he had bawled all through, yet, come out of the screening with a smile on his face. That’s everyone’s reaction.

Veteran actors Neena Gupta and Soni Razdan had a problem with Bhumi and you playing the daadis...
(Laughs) I’m used to controversies now. Maybe the trailer was so good, they wanted to do the film themselves. But I know I can play a person of any age and gender, race or sexual orientation—that’s what ‘acting’ is about. If my performance is not up to mark, you can criticise me, else it’s a lame conversation.

But just how difficult was it growing into an old woman?
Tushar (Hiranandani, director) was clear he didn’t want silicon prosthetics as it restricts facial movements and expressions. So, we went with special effects make-up, using latex which takes three hours to put on and is difficult to shoot in as even a drop of sweat ruins it. March was comfortable, but April was a nightmare. For a scene where the dadis go, “Smile now, dikha bateesi”, I had to do my makeup thrice, that’s five to six hours.

Also, ‘ghagra’ and ‘odhani’ is like a second skin for the daadis, but we had to practise for days before the shoot. I’d look at my mother and ask myself how she would have done it. This is a performance people could remember for years or laugh at. The highs made it a risk worth taking. When you challenge yourself, it helps you grow.

Anurag recently warned you about how difficult his upcoming horror film will be…
(Laughs) Yeah, I’m worried he’ll put me in minus five degrees and expect me to emote with a frozen jaw. If he chooses a chilly destination, I’ll need silicone to keep my face warm. (Laughs) But with directors like Anubhav (Sinha) and Anurag, I know I’m in good hands.

Anubhav’s Thappad is nearing completion. How’s that been?
I’ve consciously chosen characters that challenge the patriarchy. For this one, I had to tone down my firebrand image, look docile which was a bigger challenge than looking old. I chose to play Amrita, a middle-class girl whose father is a professor and mother a housewife, and who wants to be a good wife but things don’t go as planned and she finds herself questioning her decisions. She makes an impact without ranting and I had to make sure the go-getter Taapsee didn’t intervene. I could have opted for two other characters who were more me, but I change things a bit for my own sanity. Plus, the issues in Thappad are personal and every woman is going to identify with at least one of the characters. It’s a letter I wanted to write to other women.

Judwaa 2, Mission Mangal, Saand Ki Aankh and now Thappad… Is working with other actresses easy?
There have been times when actresses have backed out at the last minute because it was a two-woman project and left me fuming. Thankfully, there are others secure enough to share screen space. As women, we should be there for each other.

Would you do a Judwaa 2 again?
I’ve never said no to glamorous roles, you might see me in one next year itself. But it will have to have substance. Fortunately, the lines between content-driven and commercial cinema are blurring.

You’re never linked-up with your co-stars. What’s the trick?
(Laughs) As Vicky Kaushal says, I have been friend-zoned by the media.

So, who’s that special someone?
When I get married, I’ll tell the world. But since he’s not an actor, I don’t see any reason to speak about him. For now, my work is making headlines, no one needs to know about my personal life.

All work and no play then?
My vacations are my therapy. I hope to take off again in November after I wrap up my Tamil film.

Finally, tell us about your Kutchi athlete, Rashmi Rocket…
She is not based on any one person but borrows from different sprinters from around the world. It was Akarsh Khurana’s (director) idea to base the girl out of Kutch before taking her to the world stage. The place has a strong culture and its beauty is striking. I start prep, building an athlete’s physique, this month and we roll in January.