Mumbai: Actor Taapsee Pannu has revealed that she has turned down certain film roles to avoid being typecast in a particular image in the industry, saying she has even advised some filmmakers against casting her when she felt audiences could easily predict the direction of the story.
Known for her performances in female-led and issue-based films such as Pink, Mulk, Thappad and Assi, Taapsee is now preparing for the release of Gandhari, an action thriller centred on a mother’s fight to save her missing daughter.
Speaking in a recent interview with PTI, the actor reflected on the challenges of avoiding typecasting and said familiar casting patterns often lead filmmakers to repeatedly approach the same set of actors for similar kinds of roles.
Taapsee says she ‘de-sold’ herself from some films
Taapsee said the film industry often tends to operate within comfort zones, with certain actors repeatedly being considered for glamorous roles and others being associated with hard-hitting or issue-based stories.
She said she had begun rejecting some offers because she believed casting her in another similar role could make the storyline predictable for the audience.
According to Taapsee, she has even told some filmmakers not to cast her when she felt her presence would give away the nature or possible outcome of the film.
The actor said she had effectively “de-sold” herself from certain projects rather than accepting roles simply because they were being offered to her.
Her comments highlight the challenge actors face when successful performances in a particular genre or category lead to repeated casting in similar roles.
Career took a different route from conventional mainstream films
Taapsee also spoke about how her career developed differently from the conventional mainstream path followed by many actors.
She said she did not initially receive opportunities in regular, clichéd mainstream roles, which are often considered commercially rewarding for actresses.
As a result, she took up a different range of characters and films that were more focused on strong narratives and hard-hitting subjects.
Over time, several of those films and performances became widely recognised and helped establish her as an actor associated with female-led and socially relevant stories.
Taapsee described this progression as a “snowball effect”, suggesting that the choices available to her early in her career eventually shaped the image she developed in the industry.
Success brings challenge of being associated with one image
While the success of films such as Pink, Mulk and Thappad helped Taapsee build a strong identity as a performer, she indicated that such an image can also create the risk of typecasting.
Actors who become strongly associated with a particular genre can often find themselves repeatedly offered similar characters.
Taapsee’s decision to turn down some projects appears to be aimed at maintaining variety in her work and preventing audiences from forming fixed expectations about the roles she chooses.
Her comments also point to a larger issue in the film industry, where casting decisions are often influenced by an actor’s previous successful performances.
By rejecting roles that she believes could make a film predictable, Taapsee said she has tried to make choices that would benefit both her career and the projects being offered to her.
Gandhari explores a mother’s fight for her daughter
Taapsee will next be seen in Gandhari, an action thriller directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon.
The film follows a mother who is forced to confront danger and hidden truths after her daughter goes missing.
Speaking about the character, Taapsee said the story explores how far a mother can go when her child is taken away from her.
She described the character’s response as something that goes beyond ordinary limits, suggesting that a parent’s determination to protect or recover their child can become an unstoppable force.
According to the actor, the story is different from a conventional narrative about crimes against women, as it focuses specifically on the emotional and powerful response of a mother searching for her child.
‘No limit’ to a mother’s determination
Taapsee said that, in her understanding, there is no limit to how far a mother can go when her offspring is taken away.
She described the character’s journey as the unleashing of a powerful force that others may find difficult to control.
The premise places a mother’s emotional strength and determination at the centre of the action thriller.
The film is expected to explore her journey through danger and difficult circumstances as she takes matters into her own hands in an effort to find her daughter.
The role also marks a departure from a predictable formula, reflecting Taapsee’s stated interest in continuing to explore different dimensions through her film choices.
Ensemble cast and Netflix premiere
Apart from Taapsee, Gandhari features Ishwak Singh, Jatin Sarna, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Chhaya Kadam in important roles.
The film brings together a diverse cast for the thriller, which is built around the disappearance of a child and a mother’s relentless search.
With Devashish Makhija directing the project and Kanika Dhillon serving as its writer and producer, Gandhari is among Taapsee’s upcoming releases to watch.
The film is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 3.
As Taapsee prepares for the release, her comments on typecasting have drawn attention to the balancing act actors often face between building a recognisable screen identity and continuing to take up fresh, unexpected and challenging roles.