'Talent isn’t enough’: Taapsee Pannu on getting no commercial films after ‘Dunki’

Taapsee Pannu says starring opposite Shah Rukh Khan in “Dunki” did not lead to more mainstream Bollywood offers, arguing that talent is often only one factor in deciding who lands commercial films.

The 2023 Rajkumar Hirani film became the biggest box-office success of Taapsee’s career, although its performance fell short of Shah Rukh’s other releases that year, “Pathaan” and “Jawan”, Hindustan Times reports.

Speaking to News18, Taapsee said she had expected little to change after “Dunki” because female roles in many mainstream films were often considered interchangeable.

The Basis Isn’t Talent

Taapsee argued that actresses with stronger industry connections, greater visibility and more commercial appeal often have an advantage when such roles are cast.

“No actor is irreplaceable,” she said, adding that different performers might approach the same role differently but could still make it work.

“But the female characters in these so-called mainstream and commercial films are ones that can be played by anyone,” she said.

“And the basis of landing these roles isn’t your talent. It’s your market, saleability, contacts, visibility, presence and influence. All of these factors, more than an actor’s talent, come into play.”

Taapsee said she believed she was at a disadvantage on those measures.

“The only basis on which I can get a film is my talent,” she said.

She credited Hirani with casting her in “Dunki” after seeing her previous work.

“The only reason I got to work on ‘Dunki’ is because Raju sir had seen my work. He puts his foot down for me.”

Commercial Roles ‘Aren’t Significant’

Taapsee said casting decisions in mainstream films were often driven by budget and market value because many female characters were not considered central enough to require a particular actor.

“Usually, the characters in a commercial film aren’t significant enough, and so it doesn’t matter which actress is playing the part,” she said.

“If an actress fits into their budget and has a certain market value, they immediately cast her.”

She said mainstream films that cast actresses primarily on talent were “few and far between”, adding that filmmakers willing to insist on a particular performer were even rarer.

Taapsee said Hirani had been one of those directors, making her casting in “Dunki” an exception rather than the start of a run of big-ticket commercial films.