Taapsee Pannu, who has built a reputation through female-led films such as Pink, Mulk, Thappad and Assi, says she cannot imagine herself working in movies that rely heavily on violence and shock value.
The actor is currently promoting her upcoming Netflix film Gandhari. During a conversation with Suchin Mehrotra, she reflected on the changing nature of Hindi cinema and the kinds of films being released in recent months.
Taapsee said she felt fortunate to have entered the industry at a time when films with strong female characters were receiving greater attention.
“Was that a dream era? Someone like me wouldn’t have a career if this was the time where only this kind of stuff was getting made,” she said.
She recalled discussing recent releases with her family and questioning whether she still had a place in the industry.
“I was like, ‘Retire hone ka time toh nahi aa gaya hai kahi (Is it time for me to retire)?’ because I will prefer retiring than doing those kinds of films,” she said, while acknowledging that such movies may have their own audiences.
Taapsee added that she loves acting but does not want to accept projects blindly simply because they are commercially successful.
“I love my job but I don’t love my job blindly to be doing those kinds of films,” she said.
The actor also stressed the importance of building a filmography that would remain meaningful over time.
“Times will change but the filmography will not change,” she said. “Ten years after the genre will change but my films will stay.”
Taapsee said she wanted to be able to look back at her work without feeling embarrassed, either for herself or for the people associated with her films.
“So I will probably hold my filmography closer to me than the times,” she added.
Directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon, Gandhari is set in the fictional town of Joypurra.
The film follows the journey of a blind mother as she confronts hidden truths, growing danger and unexpected allies.
The story explores her struggle to hold on to hope while facing a world increasingly shaped by darkness.
Taapsee stars alongside Ishwak Singh, who plays Gokul, a father dealing with the disappearance of his daughter. Jatin Sarna portrays Kabir, the police officer investigating a series of missing-girl cases.
Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Chhaya Kadam are also part of the cast.
Gandhari premieres on Netflix on 3 September.
