Taapsee Pannu on Box Office Struggles of Women-Centric Films: ‘It Faces Extra Judgments’

Taapsee Pannu has become a force in Bollywood, known for her roles in films like Pink, Thappad, and Mulk, where she challenges traditional cinematic norms. In a recent interview with ANI, Taapsee opened up about the difficulties women-centric films face in the male-dominated industry, particularly at the box office.

Taapsee highlighted that films centered on women often encounter more scrutiny and struggle to achieve the same level of box office success as those led by male actors. She believes this is because women-centric stories are still considered “new” in the industry.

“What women are doing is always going to be subjected to more judgment because it’s relatively new to see women doing something. It’s not a common thing,” Taapsee explained. She added that while male-driven narratives have long been normalized, stories focusing on women are still met with resistance. “The lens has changed, and the woman’s perspective is becoming important—how she thinks she wants to live. This is new, and it’s being resisted because it’s not yet normal.”

Taapsee also addressed the industry’s financial disparities, noting that women-led films tend to attract fewer viewers, leading to smaller paychecks for actresses. “Naturally, there are fewer footfalls in theatres, which is why we have smaller paychecks or lower-value paychecks than men because our films aren’t earning as much as male-driven films.”

According to Taapsee, the audience’s preference often leans toward seeing the “nice, sweet, bubbly heroine” rather than strong female characters who assert themselves. “The majority of footfalls are male, and they want to see their representation as a hero on screen.”

The actress also pointed out that women-driven films have yet to fully explore genres like comedy and action, areas usually dominated by male-centric movies. “Women-driven films are not made with a lot of humour and flair as of now. I think that’s one space a lot of us will slowly start tapping into.”

Reflecting on her career, Taapsee expressed pride in her filmography, particularly in films like Thappad, which she believes have helped shape her strong image and identity in the industry.

Taapsee’s latest project, Khel Khel Mein, a multi-starrer film featuring Akshay Kumar, Ammy Virk, and Aditya Seal, was released on August 15. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film continues to showcase Taapsee’s versatility as an actress.

Taapsee began her acting journey with the Tamil film Aadukalam and later transitioned to Bollywood, making her mark with films like Baby and Manmarziyaan, solidifying her status as one of Hindi cinema’s leading actresses.