Redefining Heroine’s Fear To Fierce - Taapsee

Ridhi Suri

Often in cinema, women have been portrayed weak. It isn’t until one learns about women empowerment and feminism, that they start noticing how it is always the hero who needs to possess strength, a woman who’s another woman’s enemy and worst of all, it’s the damsel who always needs to be saved by the hero.

Thankfully, during the past few years, certainly a number of women-centric/ women-lead movies are climbing up the cinematic ladder. And one of the actresses who’s changing the so-called heroine’s norms and empowering women through her acting is Taapsee Pannu!

It’s been a decade since the girl from Delhi, made her debut down South in cinema. Taapsee Pannu with her big, broad smile and gorgeous curls who started her career in 2010, with the Telugu movie – ‘Jhummandi Naadam’ worked her way to success and won hearts all across the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and most recently – Bollywood! Her latest film, Thappad, has not just received positive critics but also serves as one of the major eye – opening movies to have been made by the film industry.

Following Women’s Day, Taapsee Pannu opens up to Brew about her views on Women Empowerment, Gender Equality and lots more.

Let’s rewind a little. How were your school and college days?

I used to do a lot of public speaking during school and college. I’ve been the Head Girl of my school. I’ve participated in many debates and group discussions, be it interschool or college. I used to take part in many of my college activities.

But now when you start working versus when you’re a student, the whole perception of life and being a woman is different. You know when you’re a student, you don’t really know that much about being open. You realize it more when you start working in the real world out there. So, it’s probably now after gaining experience at work that I started talking about women empowerment.

How significant is Women’s Day for you?

It is significant but I think we are very far away from equality. So, Women’s Day, I look at it as a day where I can promise or pledge to do something that will help bring a change and help us move towards equality; at least a step. I celebrate Women’s day by taking that one step which, in my capacity as an actor, as a woman; I can do for equality or to bring equality.

How important is Women Empowerment?

This is why we’ve still not achieved equality because we really need to empower each other. Even men -- they need to empower women. The women need to empower each other to make sure we realize what our potential is!

Until and unless we get that equal status in the society, I think we need to keep empowering each other.

How important is gender equality in the society?

For a society to progress in the right direction, both wheels of the society need to be in sync and be equally strong. If one wheel is not working well or is given the step-motherly attitude, it’s going to take a wrong direction rather than where your vehicle should be moving in. therefore, it is important for both the wheels to be equally strong and moving in the same direction.

How inspired have you been after working in films like Saand Ki Aankh, Pink and Badla?

Very! Because each decision of such sort, when it has worked at the box office, has giving me confidence that I can go ahead and do more such films. So yes, these films have truly helped me gain a lot of confidence.

In India, have you noticed progress or feel that there is enough work done to empower women?

Of course, I have in almost every field. Let’s talk about my own field… If you notice, five or ten years ago, there were not as many women-lead films as there are today. This year has a record number of female driven films in Hindi. So, which is a big change from what we were couple of years back. Hence, there is a definite progress.

Which women personalities served as a source of inspiration to you in your life outside of films?

I don’t think there’s one particular person, but I do get inspired seeing different women in different fields.

If you ask me, I have been impressed and been a big fan of Indian-American business executive and former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi. She’s a very, very smart and intelligent woman. I look up to her.

What’s your word on giving out love to the society?

As a human, I want to make sure that people know that there is a lack in love out there. It’s there in everyone’s life today and we can only mend this world with love, which we’re ignoring. Lately, I feel that the love between humans has really, really gone down. I just hope we get the love back, wherever we’ve missed it; whenever we’ve missed it. Because only then we will truly enjoy living!