The Delhi-based Taapsee Pannu hasn't had a smooth sail in Bollywood from the beginning as many would think. She made her debut with Chashme Baddooor and up until Pink didn't really receive her share of plaudits.
She's a woman of performance, that we know, but the fact that she hasn't been credited enough - both prestige and monetary wise remains the stark truth.
The actress, in a moving post on a Facebook page called Humans of Bombay, bared it all. She spoke at length about film industry's deep-rooted sexism and failure blame games - which highlights the less glamorous side of Bollywood.
“I got into modelling during my college days, just to make some extra pocket money. I had scored 88% in my CAT exams and was enroute to pursuing my MBA when I got an offer for a film — it happened as organically as that. Thereafter, three of the films I worked in didn’t work and I got the label of ‘iron leg’ — I was ‘rumoured’ to bring bad luck to films."
"Mind you, all of these films had huge male co-stars and directors, but the failure of movies was blamed upon my bad luck," the post read.
She further highlighted how she was asked to reduce her pay to accommodate the producers' financial interests.
"Thereafter, I’ve been asked to reduce my pay, I’ve been thrown out of films because the producer was having financial issues. This was all before I did the movie Pink, but believe it or not even after that there’s stigma I’ve had to deal with."
Not just monetary scuffles but the actress had to fight for her rights as a performer too. The actors, in Bollywood, refused to work with her "because I’m not an ‘A list actress’".
"Actors have refused to work with me in Bollywood, because I’m not an ‘A list actress’. Producers have finalised me, locked my dates and then randomly backed out at the last minute because they got a bigger name. Expecting equal pay is far off, even the basic amount is something I have to fight for— but I’m not complaining."
Despite all odds, Taapsee is still very much at it - fighting for what she loves - not just for herself but probably for other female actors in the industry too. "I’m here because I love acting — I may not be the most glamorous, or have the perfect body but I believe in my art. I don’t like indulging in self pity…I enjoy being strong and independent."
The actress also cited a personal incident to encourage others to stay at it and to not give up something that you've have your heart and soul in.
"Just a few weeks ago, I was going to a Keertan in Delhi where in the middle of the crowd I felt a guy trying to poke me from behind. I didn’t even turn to look at him, I grabbed his finger and twisted it so hard that he winced in pain.Truth is, I’m less heroine and more the ‘hero’ in my story and for some that’s a bitter pill to swallow, but then that’s tough…because I’m not going anywhere."
Comments
0 comment