Taapsee Pannu discusses challenges faced by small-budget films in Bollywood
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Taapsee Pannu, a prominent Bollywood actress who recently ventured into film production with her company, Outsider Films, shared her thoughts on the hurdles faced by small-budget films in the industry.
While she has been known for her unconventional roles in content-driven cinema, she expressed concerns about the prevailing "star system" and the hypocrisy within the industry.
In a conversation with E Times, Taapsee pointed out the lack of support for meaningful films in Bollywood.
She addressed the industry's obsession with identifying the film's hero before understanding the storyline, stating, "This myth I had about people believing in 'content is king' was shattered while making this (Dhak Dhak) film. There's so much hypocrisy. They will hear your one-line story and will be quick to ask, 'Picture mein actor kaun hai (Who is the hero in the film)?' That decides their financial and emotional investment in the project."
Taapsee further emphasised that, during her film selection process, she never inquired about her co-stars or the stature of the film's makers. She has worked with numerous first-time directors and newcomers but acknowledged that not everyone in the industry approaches projects with the same mindset.
The actress attributed these challenges to the deeply ingrained "star system," even in the presence of OTT platforms.
She highlighted that all stakeholders, including actors, studios, and audiences, share responsibility for perpetuating this culture. She also noted that because studios can recoup their investments through digital rights for smaller films, there is minimal interest in properly packaging and releasing such films. This, according to Taapsee, hinders the growth of the industry and further widens the gap between actors and stars.
Taapsee Pannu stressed the need for change within the industry, stating, "We keep saying Bollywood doesn't attempt something meaningful, but when we try to do that, there's rarely any support, and this must change."