Beyond Limits

TAAPSEE PANNU INSISTS THE INSECURITY KEEPS THE HUNGER TO PROVE HERSELF ALIVE. SUMAN SHARMA CHATS WITH THE SPUNKY STAR

- Suman Sharma

We live in times, where a celebrity’s popularity is often gauged by the trolls he/she invites on social media.

By that benchmark, the spirited and sassy Taapsee Pannu has come home to fame. Her bravura act as the anxious yet unyielding lawyer, Aarti Mohammed, who avenges the victimisation of her Muslim family in Mulk, invited the ire of radicals on social media. But the feisty Taapsee is unfazed. As an actor, she’s always pursued characters, who make a difference. In Pink, her character stood for ‘consent’ in a relationship, while in Naam Shabana, she played an under cover cop out to avenge her lover’s killers. Much like her onscreen personas, her off-screen candour is refreshing. She’s rumoured to be dating Danish Badminton player Mathias Boe but insists she’s not yet prepared for marriage. The self-confessed feminist explains, “Feminism is not something like reservation. It’s about having equal rights. I shouldn’t lose an opportunity simply because I’m a woman. Women empowerment means having the guts to face any issue. It may be a troll or playing a character that fights for rights in a film like Mulk.” We can’t but agree…

WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS PHASE AS THE BEST IN YOUR LIFE?

Yes, 2018 has been a good year. This year saw four of my films being released. Dil Juunglee, Mulk, Soorma and Manmarziyan and some South Indian films too. I’m glad that I could do different roles and work with different filmmakers like Sujoy Ghosh, Abhinav Sinha, Anurag Kashyap. People have begun noticing my work.

IS YOUR STRUGGLE OVER?