- 1 week ago
Mumbai, Maharashtra: In an exclusive interview with IANS, actress Taapsee Pannu, actor Ishwak Singh, and writer-producer Kanika Dhillon opened up about their upcoming film 'Gandhari'.Taapsee revealed how difficult it was for her to say yes when the project was first offered to her. Kanika shared that Taapsee was already in her mind even before the journey of Gandhari began.Ishwak Singh addressed whether he felt overshadowed by Taapsee in Gandhari and shared that he had been craving to work with her.Taapsee also spoke about experiencing a deep sense of fear of losing loved ones after working on Gandhari.She further talked about how content-driven films led by female superstars often fail at the box office, while masala films of male superstars easily cross the Rs 500 crore mark, and how controversies around her films' releases have affected their business.
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00:00So, welcome team Gandhari to INS. It is an absolute pleasure to have you with us on board today.
00:06I saw the trailer, actually. I couldn't be a part of the entire event.
00:09Oh, no!
00:12What a loss.
00:13I wanted to watch the theater. It's a good idea.
00:18But the theater feels, I believe, comes from the content.
00:21And trust me on this, it is not because I'm going to start the interview so that the answers are
00:25good.
00:25On a good note.
00:25Yeah, so that the answers are good.
00:26Yeah, yeah. But genuinely, after a very long time, we often say that it's not a woman-centric.
00:33It's not a woman-centric, or it's not a woman-centric, but it hits you in the right nerve.
00:41Trust me, this is very different.
00:43And firstly, congratulations on that.
00:45And I'm really looking forward to September 3rd.
00:48I just said before the ending.
00:50I just said before the ending.
00:53So, but, you know, I really wanted to know from you, Tapsi, to begin with.
00:56That when this project was offered to you, right, how easy or difficult was it to say a yes?
01:03Because such movies need a lot of commitment, a lot of dedication, and a lot of belief in the content.
01:10I really want to know what worked for you while saying it.
01:13I wouldn't have liked it a notch lesser.
01:16I just said that if there's something solid that will take the stakes higher than my last attempt action,
01:26which was my last attempt, then we will do something.
01:29So, this was, I was prepared that my solid, I was ready for that.
01:38Because I wouldn't have, I knew that without it, I didn't get anything easily.
01:41I didn't get anything.
01:42I didn't get anything.
01:43So, I was told that I didn't get anything to do until it was completely empty.
01:47Until it was not impact and it wouldn't get worth it.
01:51And especially films that are headlined by women or like half the female protagonists,
01:59we don't have scope of error so big.
02:02Correct.
02:02Our past, our past, our past 19, 20, it's not a scope.
02:05I've got to do one.
02:07So, that's why we knew that it's not 100% ever.
02:13It's our way.
02:14To begin with, be it on paper or be it giving my 100% each and every take.
02:20So, we can't settle and we can't do it.
02:23Because we will put it 100% and eventually, however it will come out,
02:29that's the human error.
02:40but you know when you say that
02:56when you give 100% in a project
02:58especially when it's very women
03:00female centering is not very typical
03:02Bollywood damar dhad and masala
03:04usmei pata nii kitana hi deliverable
03:06hota hai but jab aam sirf
03:09women's
03:10women ki baat karte hai
03:11unke base line pe
03:13jo story based hooti hai
03:16even though you put in your 100%
03:18there are so many times when it doesn't work
03:20so do you feel ki even though
03:22aap kar rahe ho
03:23abhi maan lo aapka purana
03:25pichla jo hai it didn't probably work out
03:27commercially right
03:28so when you were working with a gandhari
03:31right
03:32how difficult or easy was it
03:33kyunki aapko pata hai na
03:34aap 100% dee nahi ho
03:35liki pata nahi commercially
03:36chale nahi chale
03:37and unfortunately however
03:38rough it may sound
03:39it hasn't worked a lot many times
03:41so how do you
03:43kind of work on it
03:44uh...
03:45uh...
03:46iska maan aapko eek
03:46jwaab dhungi
03:47pata nahi aapko yaad hooga
03:48thuppad me eek line thhi
03:50sahi karne ka result
03:51hamayshah happy nahi hota
03:53isi tariqe se
03:54achi film karne ka result
03:56hamayshah success nahi hota
03:57yeh maanay aapni through the journey
04:00hud ki film me ho
04:01chai maan dhu
04:01aapne colleagues ki film me
04:02dekhi hain
04:03bohat sari achi film hai
04:04joh
04:05box office pe nahi chalti hain
04:07aur phir usko
04:08das saal baad hamna
04:10best films of the decades
04:11mein leate hain
04:12phir usko
04:12cult status
04:13de deate hain
04:14phir uski
04:15puja kari jati hain
04:16phir uske
04:17reference points
04:17bantay hain
04:19madame
04:19mehna
04:19tohra sab
04:19bokhati dekh liya
04:20apne
04:20karir
04:21kan dhrab
04:21toh
04:22it is a
04:23conscious choice
04:24that i have made
04:25of choosing my
04:26filmography
04:26over temporary
04:27reward
04:29because this
04:30filmography
04:30is going to
04:31stay
04:31time change
04:32ho jayega
04:32aaj isthana ki
04:33film mein chal rhi
04:34hain
04:34kal ko
04:34usthana ki
04:35chalengi
04:35pahale
04:36kusi
04:37but
04:37joh
04:38filmography
04:38hain
04:39mehri
04:39woh change
04:40nii hogi
04:40woh
04:41wohi
04:41rheegi
04:41toh
04:42mujhe
04:42aas
04:43film
04:43meh
04:43chanye
04:43apne
04:43filmography
04:44meh
04:44ke
04:4420
04:45saal baad
04:45bhi
04:45agar
04:46dhekhu
04:46na
04:46toh
04:47woh
04:47laghe
04:47ke
04:47hain
04:47yeh
04:48kuch
04:48sahih
04:48film
04:49kari
04:49thi
04:50yeh
04:50yeh
04:50siraf
04:51time
04:51meh
04:51joh
04:51bheti
04:52ganga
04:52meh
04:52hath
04:52nahi
04:52dhu
04:53hain
04:54toh
04:54woh
04:54meh
04:55bhat
04:56conscious
04:56decision
04:56liya
04:57life
04:57meh
04:58aat
04:58karir
04:58meh
04:59jiska
04:59obviously
04:59harzana
05:00yeh
05:00pay
05:00karna
05:00pardha
05:01aapko
05:01ki
05:01aapko
05:01bata
05:02aapki
05:02picture
05:03flop
05:03aap
05:04aapkko
05:05wait
05:05karna
05:05pardha
05:05dhas
05:06saal
05:06bheet
05:06nneka
05:06usko
05:07cult
05:07status
05:07mil
05:07jae
05:08phir
05:09aap
05:09uske
05:09bade
05:10bade
05:10interviews
05:10de
05:10sakta
05:11hain
05:11toh
05:12woh
05:13usi
05:13saal
05:13meh
05:14agar
05:14joh
05:14baaki
05:14hit
05:14picture
05:15joh
05:15hoi
05:15hoi
05:15hoi
05:15hoi
05:15hoi
05:16so
05:17it is
05:17such
05:18a weird
05:18cycle
05:18as an
05:19after
05:19you
05:19go
05:20through
05:20it
05:20so
05:20you
05:21have
05:21to
05:21be
05:22very
05:22sure
05:22kya
05:22aapko
05:23yeh
05:23film
05:23kya
05:24gharna
05:24hai
05:24is
05:24lhe
05:24gharna
05:25hai
05:25kya
05:26bade
05:26hit
05:27بن
05:27jae
05:27ya
05:28is
05:28lhe
05:28gharna
05:29hai
05:29ke
05:29joh
05:29is
05:29ko
05:29picture
05:29dekhen
05:30woh
05:30is
05:30ko
05:30yad
05:31rakhhen
05:31abhi
05:31nahi
05:32dh
05:32saal
05:32baad
05:33bhi
05:33toh
05:34mein
05:34shayad
05:35yeh
05:35second
05:35wala
05:36option
05:36choose
05:36kiya
05:38and
05:38I
05:39think
05:39it's
05:39fine
05:39I'm
05:40okay
05:41being
05:42someone
05:43who's
05:43probably
05:43not
05:44had
05:44thousand
05:44crore
05:45five
05:45thousand
05:45crore
05:46films
05:47saw
05:48crore
05:48films
05:48also
05:49for that
05:49matter
05:49I've
05:49not
05:50really
05:50had
05:50many
05:50in
05:50my
05:50career
05:51I'm
05:52fine
05:52with
05:52that
05:52I
05:53would
05:53rather
05:53be
05:53someone
05:54who's
05:54remembered
05:54for
05:55the
05:55kind
05:55of
05:55rules
05:55I
05:56have
05:56done
05:57I
05:57think
05:57that's
05:58a little
05:58more
05:58significant
05:58for me
05:59right
05:59absolutely
06:00this question
06:00is for
06:00you
06:01Kanika
06:01that
06:01job
06:02apne
06:02yeh
06:03story
06:03likhni
06:04shuru ki
06:05was
06:05it
06:05always
06:06tapsi
06:07in your
06:07mind
06:08or
06:08was
06:09it
06:09always
06:09ki
06:10yeh
06:10story
06:10likhh
06:11loon
06:11to
06:11iske
06:11baad
06:12mein
06:12is
06:12character
06:13sketch
06:13ke
06:14saapse
06:14jiske
06:14you
06:16know
06:22ke
06:22humari
06:22relationship
06:24bach
06:24fimo
06:25ke
06:25baad
06:25is
06:26kaga
06:26we
06:26we
06:26we
06:27don't
06:27go
06:30online
06:31ke
06:31saapse
06:32jati
06:32you
06:32kisun
06:33dheek
06:34me
06:34kata
06:34rata
06:35he
06:35bhi
06:35kata
06:35ke
06:35mujji
06:36yeh
06:36karna
06:36hai
06:40to
06:40phir
06:40uske
06:41baad
06:41journey
06:41shuru
06:41ho
06:42to
06:42yeh
06:42gandhari
06:43or
06:44character
06:44main
06:45is
06:45is
06:46he
06:46kari
06:47tapsi
06:48ki
06:48liye
06:48and
06:48kabhi
06:49kabhi
06:49kabhar
06:50yeh
06:50joh
06:50writer
06:51or
06:51actor
06:51ka
06:51combination
06:52na
06:52yeh
06:53is
06:53liye
06:53kamaal
06:53ka
06:53hot
06:54hai
06:54kyunki
06:54jab
06:54aap
06:54kalam
06:55kisi
06:55ko
06:55dhyan
06:56me
06:56rakhke
06:57chalate
06:57ho
06:57to
06:57mujja
06:57pata
06:58ya
06:58as
06:58a
06:58actor
06:59as
06:59an
07:00artist
07:00yeh
07:01kya
07:01kya
07:01kya
07:02sakti
07:02hai
07:02kya
07:02nahi
07:03kya
07:03kya
07:04kya
07:04kya
07:04kya
07:04kya
07:04kya
07:04kya
07:05kya
07:05kya
07:18kya
07:27kya
07:28It's not a risk-taker, it's not a traditional form of art, it's a risk-taker.
07:38So, it feels very good to me.
07:41And it's an unpredictability that you can see in the character.
07:45Off-camera also, and off-screen also.
07:49Actually, something that you have to draw and capture,
07:55and that makes me very excited because it's very unpredictable.
07:58Almost on the borderline of, you don't know what Tapsi is going to do next.
08:02And as a creator, it makes me very attractive.
08:05I didn't know, I didn't know.
08:06No, I was angry before, but I enjoy it.
08:09Now, it's like, you get to see this.
08:13So, that's a creator that excites me a lot.
08:16The unpredictability that she comes with.
08:18And that also pushes me to do something new with her.
08:22So, that has been the collaboration so far.
08:24Throughout.
08:26This question is for you.
08:28In a movie or in a project, if I may say.
08:32When the main central character is female-oriented.
08:36Especially when we talk about Gandhari.
08:38It is about a mother.
08:40Mostly about a mother.
08:41Of course, it is about a father and other relations as well with the daughter.
08:43But, it is more about the mother and her quest to find she goes blind.
08:48And so many of ups and downs in her life, right?
08:50Number one.
08:51And number two.
08:52When the character, the central character is an actress like Kapsi.
08:57How difficult or easy or how...
08:59Do you feel the fear of being overshadowed at times?
09:04Not at all.
09:05I mean, it's...
09:06I think...
09:07Very good.
09:08The name...
09:10So, my upbringing has been such...
09:12I mean, I used to...
09:13I started my work on stage.
09:14And, you know, when you're working in a play sometimes...
09:19The character that, you know, I'd find me and other people in the repertory...
09:26In, you know, the theatre group eyeing or gunning for...
09:29Was probably a character that just comes on stage for like five minutes.
09:34Because it has that impact.
09:36So, you know, it becomes about the...
09:38Agar aapki waisi apbringing rehi yo toh, you know...
09:40It always becomes about the story...
09:44The character.
09:45And you know that it's a teamwork.
09:47I mean...
09:48I can give you so many examples even close to home.
09:51But in the West, if you see...
09:52You know, some of the biggest stars would come in...
09:55And do a cameo in a film to support the film.
09:59And it's not like...
10:01And, you know, there's always...
10:02There's so much that you can take.
10:06Sometimes, you know, a five-minute...
10:07A five-scene character can be more challenging than the...
10:12Or as challenging as the protagonist.
10:14Because you have to deliver certain goods in a lesser period of time.
10:18So, these are all things.
10:19And the fun of working in today's time is because those lines have got blurred.
10:23I mean, those don't mean anything.
10:25Yeh karo, woh karo.
10:26It is about the story.
10:27It's about the maker.
10:28It's about your character.
10:29What are you doing?
10:30And what is it?
10:30You know, how am I growing as an actor?
10:33Because that remains my motivation with everything that I take up.
10:36That's the only way I'm wired.
10:37And that's the way I can make my decisions.
10:41So, fortunately, I never had that feeling.
10:44And I was craving to work with her.
10:47I've been a huge admirer.
10:48And in Kaneka's story, because, you know, this is one...
10:55I mean, she's the kind of writer...
10:56It is her world.
10:59When you're working on her script, it's like nothing else.
11:04Because, you know, it doesn't have that...
11:08It's truly a genre bender.
11:11Otherwise, if you're in a crime drama, you kind of have a certain zone.
11:14Here, it's like...
11:15Constantly, there's like...
11:17It's like a constant flux.
11:18Things are changing.
11:19You know, it's wacky.
11:20There's room for...
11:21There's a lot of room to play.
11:23So, you have to be an actor and be there to experience what I'm saying.
11:26Right, right.
11:28Tafsir's question is for you.
11:30In this whole project, you can say the role of a mother who's on a quest.
11:36And just not like a...
11:38I mean, every mother, every mother is very strong.
11:41But in this context, going by the name as well.
11:44I'm sure it must have been extremely difficult for you.
11:47Also, why?
11:48Because when it's an extremely emotional-driven character,
11:51I'm sure it must be difficult to come snap out of it.
11:54Because knowing that such cases are happening in real life.
11:57So, I really want to know...
11:58How did you take up this entire process of snapping and snapping out of character?
12:04Now, after doing all these very, very taxing characters in so many films,
12:12I've kind of gotten a hack-off.
12:15Obviously, to get into it or to get out of it,
12:17I don't want to romanticize it.
12:19It's very difficult mentally.
12:21Because I'm not a trained actor.
12:23So, I don't know the exact, direct buttons.
12:26I can't get this in.
12:29So, I have to psych out myself.
12:32To make sure that I'm bringing something genuine, honest, real.
12:37Not that if it's a laugh, it's the same way.
12:40If it's a laugh, it's the same way.
12:40If it's a laugh, it's the same way.
12:42So, I'm copying someone.
12:44It's a genuine, real, unique way.
12:46If it's a laugh, I'll have to psych myself out.
12:48Which is, I don't think, a good way of doing it.
12:52Because it's mentally kind of deteriorates you.
12:55So, when you go out of this way,
12:59you get a little bit of change.
13:01After my films, I've changed a little bit.
13:05I understand how to get out of it.
13:07But then, there's a little bit of change.
13:09It alteres you in your mind.
13:11Like, if you ask this film,
13:14it's the inherent fear.
13:17That someone so close to you might be just taken away.
13:21And you don't know what to do.
13:24So, that feeling is so much explored in this film.
13:29Now, I'm a little more careful of that.
13:34That someone who is so close to you in your life.
13:39So, yeah.
13:40Right, right.
13:41And one more time, Dilip Kumar,
13:43in this context,
13:47Dilip Kumar,
13:48he had to take during Devdas.
13:51Back then, in the early 60s,
13:53he had to take mental health.
13:56He had to go out and find resources.
14:01So, we just want to know,
14:02that when you snap in and snap out of characters,
14:04this question is for you as well.
14:05When you snap in and snap out of characters,
14:07which are extremely emotionally draining,
14:08right?
14:09As she mentioned,
14:10what stays on set?
14:11And what do you take home?
14:13And if not,
14:14what is that,
14:15that goes in the mind of an actor?
14:17The theatre actor,
14:19you might have a better hand.
14:21No, but it's like touching a live eye every time.
14:24You're not,
14:25you're susceptible to,
14:27you know, anything,
14:28the goods and bads of it.
14:31And,
14:32I mean,
14:32you got to,
14:33I guess,
14:34it's like walking on thin ice,
14:36you need to be very careful, right?
14:38How much you,
14:39if you're diving deep,
14:41then you better be sure that,
14:42how deep you want to dive.
14:44So,
14:44at the end of the day,
14:50I know it's a performance,
14:51so I want to go only,
14:52go like,
14:5410 feet below the surface.
14:57I don't want to like,
14:58deep dive so much,
14:59that I can't,
15:00surface.
15:00This talent,
15:01it doesn't happen in all.
15:03Even,
15:04Kani,
15:05Kusruti,
15:06she was also saying the same thing,
15:08that,
15:08I know,
15:10it's acting,
15:11so,
15:11that I can come out of it,
15:13unscathed.
15:14So,
15:14draw a fine line,
15:16I mean,
15:19I've got it,
15:20I've got it.
15:20It's like,
15:20I'm reading a book.
15:21So sometimes,
15:22you know,
15:22you read a book for 50 pages,
15:24you understand what this book is about.
15:26Because,
15:27I read multiple books at a time,
15:28so it's like a bad habit.
15:29But also,
15:30the thing is that,
15:30I realize,
15:31why I lose interest is,
15:33because,
15:35for instance,
15:35I'm preparing,
15:36and I'm reading a book.
15:37I've read 20 pages,
15:39I've got what I wanted,
15:41so I leave it.
15:42And then I go on to the next thing.
15:44It's kind of like that.
15:46Right, right.
15:47Tafsi,
15:47as we were discussing,
15:48before the PR next week,
15:51as we were discussing about,
15:52um,
15:53failures in life,
15:54right?
15:54This is a question that,
15:56which is a question that,
15:57which is a question that,
15:58I really hope,
16:01you can click on it.
16:03But,
16:03this is something,
16:04like,
16:04it stems out of a personal feeling,
16:06that,
16:06um,
16:08basically,
16:09when we talk about male,
16:10and female actors,
16:12right?
16:13If you talk about superstars,
16:15their content,
16:15anything,
16:16about 1,000 crore,
16:17500 crore,
16:18right?
16:19But,
16:19when we talk about,
16:20very strong content,
16:23but,
16:24when we talk about female leads,
16:25it's also,
16:26in the difficulty of making 50 crore,
16:28in the marketing,
16:29maybe,
16:29you have to put 30 crore,
16:30and then,
16:30that's all.
16:32I really want to understand,
16:34from you,
16:34that,
16:35why do you think that,
16:36despite the fact that,
16:37women today,
16:37are breaking all norms,
16:39in this industry as well,
16:41that,
16:41there's no doubt,
16:42that,
16:47the frequency of these kind of films,
17:18that,
17:20who try and keep attempting it
17:22because we don't have any option
17:24there are a lot of actresses
17:26I feel
17:27who don't get the conventional heroines
17:30who don't get the role of conventional heroines
17:31so I can't be
17:32I'm not going to be on that higher pedestal
17:34and say
17:34I've been thinking about the pictures
17:36no, I didn't get the pictures
17:38I didn't get the same
17:39I got the same
17:40as challenging movies
17:41and I chose the right
17:43and I chose the right
17:44so many of my colleagues
17:45who did the same
17:48and we have the hope
17:49that this will go
17:51and everyone will go
17:53so trust me
17:55all of us celebrate it
17:56because we feel
17:57that one will go
17:58at least
17:59investors will have hope
18:00that this will go
18:02so let's invest it in a little more
18:05and everyone feels like a failure
18:08and everyone feels like a setback
18:08because everyone feels like
18:11then we don't drop the project
18:13because people don't like it
18:14that the female driven cinema
18:15doesn't work
18:16so we are all in it together
18:19rather in a way honestly
18:20like I have told you
18:21there are many changes
18:22that have come
18:23but some years
18:24they stay good
18:24and they don't
18:25but we are all positive
18:27overall
18:27we are all positive
18:28we are all in the world
18:29so the frequency of these films
18:32which were back then
18:33versus now
18:34would have seen you
18:35factually
18:35number wise
18:36and some people
18:37right
18:38and one last question
18:41you know
18:42because of social media especially
18:45you know
18:47I will not take the blame for as
18:49media but
18:54so do you feel that what at times when
18:57so do you feel that it impacts the movie
19:06considering the kind of movies that have
19:09considering the kind of movies that you have done but
19:13so do you feel that there are so many controversies
19:15unknowingly that the main
19:16which is so hard-hitting and strong content
19:19can take backseat
19:21and other controversies in your world
19:23when you type your controversies
19:26that's the
19:28that's the platform
19:29in the sense like that's the social media
19:32it thrives on the click
19:33anyone has no interest
19:36anyone has no interest
19:37anyone has no interest
19:39when you last clicked
19:40this person
19:42has done so good
19:44for this
19:46paid PR
19:47he said something
19:49he said something
19:50he said something
19:50he said something
19:51he said something
19:52we see it
19:53breaking news
19:58so it's human nature
20:00social media
20:00but do you not feel that
20:02movies have affected you
20:04i don't think so
20:05i don't think so
20:06because
20:08this is also a movie
20:09social media
20:10that they are watching
20:11which is a lot of chit-pati
20:13but when they see pictures
20:15they will see different mediums
20:17in that
20:19they are watching
20:20the movie
20:20they are watching
20:21the movie
20:22they are watching
20:24the movie
20:24they can't
20:24they are watching
20:27our audience
20:27think so
20:29they are
20:31different
20:31entertainment
20:31social media
20:32and they are
20:34different
20:35entertainment
20:36so i think
20:37that is the difference
20:38so i think
20:41they are really
20:42so I really got to know
20:43that there are so many projects
20:44and pipelines
20:45if you could just help us
20:46I think I'll five to six movies
20:50in the next one
20:51one and a half year
20:52if you could
20:54introduce
20:58some things that
21:03unannounced
21:05which is
21:05which I can't talk about
21:07and the producers in the room
21:18can the producer talk about it
21:20no we are ready to present it
21:22abhi toh gandari is the only thing
21:24that I can talk about
21:26or mere man mein mere dimaag mein
21:28bas gandari
21:30okay
21:32take it
21:32you're not a problem
21:33thank you so much
21:34and I really wish you all the very best
21:35thank you
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