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Taapsee Pannu turned down roles to avoid typecasting, told directors: 'Don't cast me in this, it's bad for your film'

Taapsee Pannu will be seen next in Gandhaari. The film will release on Netflix.

Updated on: Aug 28, 2026, 15:46:36 IST
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Taapsee Pannu has established herself as an actor in the film industry by starring in several female-centric films, including Pink, Mulk, Thappad and Assi. The actor is now gearing up for the release of her upcoming release, Gandhari, which is an action thriller about a mother's struggle to save her daughter. In a new interview with news agency PTI, the actor opened up about her career and surviving in an industry where getting typecasted in a certain image is very easy.

What Taapsee said

Taapsee Pannu spoke about saying no to several predictable roles. (PTI)
Taapsee Pannu spoke about saying no to several predictable roles. (PTI)

The actor shared how she does not want to be trapped in a particular image. "Everybody is going into their comfort zone and using tried-and-tested methods. For instance, for glamorous roles, they (industry) have a set of five actresses they can cast, and for hard-hitting, issue-based films, they have another set of five actresses to cast. I've actually started turning down films for this reason, telling makers that the audience will easily guess the ending. So, (I tell them) 'Don't cast me in this, it's bad for your film'. I've gone and 'de-sold' myself to a few films," she added.

"It's a snowball effect. From the beginning of my career, I had no options in regular mainstream cliched roles, which are actually money-spinners for actresses. I didn't get those kinds of roles; hence I took the other type of roles, and to my luck, those films and roles later became mainstream," she said.

About Gandhari

It also stars Ishwak Singh as Gokul, a father grappling with the disappearance of his daughter, while Jatin Sarna plays Kabir, the officer leading the investigation of missing girls. Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Chhaya Kadam complete the ensemble. Gandhari premieres on September 3, only on Netflix.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das

Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha

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