In a candid interview, actress Taapsee Pannu has sparked a fresh conversation regarding the objectification of women in the Indian film industry. Reflecting on her transition from South Indian cinema to Bollywood, the Pink star detailed the “embarrassing” double standards and specific body-part fixations prevalent on film sets.
Pannu, who recently garnered acclaim for the courtroom drama Assi, highlighted a distinct cultural divide in how item songs are filmed. “I am also trying to understand,” she remarked. “Hindi cinema is more about cleavage, while South cinema focuses heavily on the navel.”
The “Chain of Communication” on Set
One of the most jarring revelations from the interview involved the technical demands made on actresses’ appearances. Taapsee explained that directors in the South often request actresses to wear padded bras to achieve a specific look, but the way these instructions are delivered adds to the discomfort.
“Think about how embarrassing it is. During a song shoot, someone has to leave the set, and everyone is watching to see what the ‘difference’ is. Then they say, ‘We can’t see the difference, go back again.’ This happens.”
She noted that these instructions rarely come directly from the director. Instead, they travel through a long, public chain:
- Director to Assistant Director
- Assistant Director to Styling Team
- Styling Team to Hair and Wardrobe
- Wardrobe to the Actress
From Jhummandi Naadam to Bollywood
Taapsee is no stranger to these industry quirks, having made her debut in the 2010 Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam. While she spent years as a staple in Telugu and Tamil cinema, her career trajectory shifted significantly with Hindi hits like Baby (2015) and Pink (2016). Those roles redefined her image, moving her away from the “glamour doll” trope and establishing her as a powerhouse performer in social and legal dramas.
Despite her success in Bollywood, Pannu’s latest comments serve as a reminder of the systemic issues and “awkwardness” that actresses continue to navigate behind the scenes in regional and mainstream cinema alike.