Taapsee Pannu's performance in the courtroom drama, Assi, is currently garnering accolades. The movie is a powerful reminder that one of the most pressing concerns in our nation is still women's safety. The critically acclaimed actor said that it's hard for someone like her to get a role in a commercial movie like Dunki. She even claimed that the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer was a gift for working on films Gandhari and Assi.
Taapsee Pannu admitted that it was challenging to get a movie like Dunki. In an interview with SCREEN, she was asked what motivates her to work on movies like Assi following a commercial feature like Dunki.
Taapsee Pannu said, "A film like Dunki is difficult to get for someone like me because I’m not some commercial, mainstream, viable heroine. I got it because that role probably needed someone like me. That’s what I’ve been told. That’s because I did films like Assi and Gandhari before. This is what has given me my space and identity in the industry. So, this is my reality. Dunki is a gift I get for these 10 years (sic)."
According to Taapsee Pannu, she is unsure of how long it will take her to secure a commercial role. She claimed she can play both serious and glamorous parts.
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"I don’t know how long it will take for me to get another one. It’s a struggle because they still have to come to terms with, 'Oh, we have to show her all glammed up.’ I started my career in the South with massy films. I began my Hindi career with David Dhawan. It doesn't get more commercial and in-your-face than that. Then I've worked with Anubhav Sinha and Anurag Kashyap. It’s a very crazy choice of directors. I can do this and that. I know what gave me a certain audience. It might be small, but I'm glad I’ve earned those people’s trust. Not every actress has that privilege. So, this is my home ground," the actor shared.
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Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki is a comedy-drama based on the illegal immigration technique known as 'donkey flight'. Alongside Taapsee, Boman Irani, Anil Grover, and Vikram Kochhar, Shah Rukh Khan played the film's protagonist. Vicky Kaushal made a brief appearance as well. The movie was a box office triumph, earning Rs 454 crore worldwide, while receiving mixed reviews.
Assi, on the other hand, is directed by Anubhav Sinha. Kani Kusruti, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, and Kumud Mishra all play significant roles in the courtroom drama. In just five days, the Taapsee Pannu-led film has made Rs 5.75 crore at the box office.