EXCLUSIVE: Taapsee Pannu: There is a difference between showcasing regressive actions and celebrating them

Taapsee Pannu has featured in films as varied as ‘Pink’ and ‘Judwaa 2’. When we quizzed her about what she thought of some comments which alluded to some aspects of Judwaa 2 being sexist, the actress replied, “Why would I want to read reviews for a film like Judwaa 2? It was not made to garner critical acclaim. And I don’t need to prove my acting capabilities with it, as I have already done that before. I only looked at how much the film made at the box office. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. There is a difference between showcasing regressive actions and celebrating them. If an actor is shown indulging in a regressive act, we are not encouraging it saying, ‘waah waah kya kaam kiya hai.’ We are not portraying it as something heroic or idealistic. Nor is the character entirely black or white. So, it’s up to the audience to decipher what’s right and wrong. It depends on the perception entirely. Also, we have started scrutinising each and every film overtly. Baal ki khaal nikalne ka kaam ho raha hai. Every film has a villain who does the nastiest of things, but we don’t mind that because he is not as big a name as Varun Dhawan.”