In the last few years, I have watched Taapsee Pannu change the narrative of where she stands as a Bollywood actress distinctively. From lighthearted fun roles like Judwaa 2 to fierce, layered women in movies like Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba, and Thappad to characters like Harpreet Kaur in Khel Khel Mein, Pannu has been challenging herself as an actor. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching a meaningless story just for fun and banger party songs but I believe we have come a long way in establishing women as powerful characters whereas there are industries where women don’t get taken as seriously.
With a much-needed change, we need women in Bollywood to be seen just as glamorous and fierce. Pannu is making sure she is one of them and we are here for it. I cannot stop myself from talking about her excellent performance in movies like Haseen Dilruba as Rani Saxena, a classic femme fatale where she effortlessly balances the seduction and brings depth to the character making it captivating and morally ambiguous had me hooked.
The movie Pink is another great example of a fierce role where she plays the role of a young woman, Minal who struggles to fight for justice after becoming a victim of a violent crime. The film portrays what women go through when they have to prove themselves against societal judgements and stereotypes. Playing a role like this puts you in a position to do justice to something that the audience feels sensitive towards. No doubt Pannu has always delivered to shine in roles like these bringing the intensity and courage it takes to fight for yourself.
In Thappad, Taapsee Pannu doesn’t just act, she makes you feel every ounce of Amrita’s heartbreak, confusion, and eventual strength. The film starts with a slap, a single moment, but it’s Pannu’s portrayal that turns it into something much bigger. Through Amrita, she asks the question we’ve all overlooked: When is enough really enough? With quiet intensity, Pannu shows how a woman’s self-worth can be chipped away by the smallest of gestures, but also how she can reclaim it, no matter the cost. In a film that’s both gut-wrenching and empowering, Pannu nails the complexity of a woman who refuses to let a slap define her life. Movies like these really make you look at the bigger picture and understand the depth of life.
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Leading with amazing roles like these, her upcoming film, Gandhari, is already creating a buzz. Centred around a strong mother fighting against all odds for her child, it promises to be another bold statement about resilience and motherhood. Let’s face it—there’s no force stronger than a mother’s instinct, and I can’t wait to see how Pannu, along with Kanika Dhillon, brings this to life. If Haseen Dillruba is any indication, this duo knows how to deliver stories that leave an impact.
In a time when women in Bollywood are being seen as both glamorous and fierce, Taapsee Pannu is making sure her voice stands out. With every role, she’s not just acting—she’s shaping the narrative, proving that women in cinema are here to be powerful, complex, and unapologetically real.
