Taapsee Pannu: “‘Pink’ is an edge of the seat thriller”

Model and actress Taapsee Pannu, who was last on our screens with ‘Baby’ (2015) opposite Akshay Kumar, is back in Shoojit Sircar’s next titled ‘Pink’, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan. The film’s first trailers have been receiving much praise and it’s slated for release this week.

BizAsia‘s Ketna Mistry caught up with Pannu while she was in London.

What made you sign the film?

First when I got the offer from Shoojit sir they wanted me to read the script because I had worked for them in another film called ‘Running Shaadi.com’ which I had just finished now and they had another script. I was like you have to make this and in all modesty I don�۪t think there is anyone better to do this because I myself belong to this place where this movie is based on; that�۪s Delhi. I definitely wanted to be a part of something that was made on or about Delhi. Being a Delhi girl I was like I definitely want to do it and the icing on the cake is the fact Mr Bachchan is a part of this so that came like a bonus. But regardless of that I would have done the film.

With such an award-winning film like ‘Piku’ last year, what should audiences expect from the Shoojit Sircar directorial?

Audiences can expect something that is usually not considered mainstream to be shown in the most mainstream way. We have made sure that people don�۪t sideline the subject as an indie film because it�۪s not, it is the subject and the film has been made as mainstream as possible. The entire treatment of the film will be extremely thrilling and edge of the seat thriller for all of you, so that will be something that you will want to see as a documentary or as a preaching subject. It will be a thriller, out and open for audiences to decide which side they want to take. We are not preaching anything in the film. We are just showing the reality of how things are from all points of view. Then it�۪s up to you to decide which side to take. We certainly want to involve the audience till the very end and we show them what has really happened. The audience should expect an edge of the seat thriller.

How was the title of the film was arrived at?

This was obviously because of the makers, but I think pink is a colour that is taken in the wrong way because they see it as a colour particularly which is associated with women, which considered to be girly. A lot of people think that pink is not for men. That is such a strong conditioning that we have done with this word or colour pink. I think we need to break this. There is nothing pinky about this film. It�۪s basically a colour which will depict women’s empowerment, which is going to be the colour of strength for women. That�۪s how I think we came to this colour or the name called ��Pink�۪.

What would you say you�۪ve learnt from Amitabh Bachchan during the shoots?

A lot of things. First of all, the way he acts. An actor’s job is to basically to react, so no actor can be a good actor unless the actor you are standing opposite in your frame is also a good actor. So for you to act well, you need someone delivering the lines as well, so you can react to it properly. So I learned that from him. The way he stands in the frame and he delivers his lines you can easily get intimidated by his presence, because in your head you know he�۪s Amitabh Bachchan or you can get that energy from him which he throws at you, you can catch it and use it in the right way and deliver an equally powerful performance. That�۪s what he really helped me with because I had the best time to look into his eyes and answer or perform the scenes, because we had such good energy in his presence or in the frame that you just want to react to everything that is happening so smoothly.

What will you remember most about making the film?

It was one of the quickest projects ever. It started and finished in two months. We actually shot less than 35 days for this film. We shot majorly in Delhi and with that being my hometown I used to go back home everyday after work where my parents stay today. Though I moved to Mumbai, I still call Delhi my home because I am still a typical Delhi girl by heart so it was like working from home for the first time ever. When you work in locations and cities where you don�۪t belong and you go back to your hotel… I started getting my lunch packed from home and coming to the set, so all those things made it more memorable to shoot this film. And also this film was something which was most easiest and difficult film at the same time. Easiest because I had to play someone as close to me as myself, so it was not difficult as the character. But it was very difficult to portray a girl who was a sexual assault victim. That definitely was challenging, because I had not gone through that in my life. I can�۪t ever say I can feel exactly how the people feel who have gone through it because I haven�۪t gone through it, but I tried really hard to portray as closely as possible and that kind of took a lot out of me. It�۪s almost like I�۪ve given a piece of my heart to it and I really hope the audience takes it back safely and take care of it in a way.

What�۪s next for you?

After ‘Pink’ I have a couple of projects. I have actually been a little slow in selecting films because I feel if I take the wrong step I might be out of the industry and might not be taken back, because I�۪m not a person who has a filmi background or has got any godfather or any backing or system in Bollywood. I have to go with only my films and whatever talent I have. So I was taking it real slow for past three years and only had one film released per year so now it�۪s going to be a little faster because after ��Baby�۪ I signed a few things. ‘Pink’ is the first and then I have another film called ��Tadka�۪ which is directed by Prakash Raj who is a national award winning actor himself and it�۪s a remake of his Malayalam film called ��Salt and Pepper�۪. It has Nana Patekar, Ali Fazal and me. And I�۪ve got another one, ��Ghazi�۪, which is based on the real incident which happened in 1971 war in India and Pakistan. It’s about when there was a Pakistani submarine called ��Ghazi�۪, and it�۪s India’s first submarine film. I play a Bangladeshi refugee in that, so as it�۪s based on real incidents it will be one of its kind.

Then I�۪m working on something in London which is a love story starting next summer. So a lot of projects, but nothing similar to the other and all different genres and all different characters.

BizAsia would like to thank Taapsee Pannu for taking the time to talk to us.

‘Pink’ will be out in cinemas on 16th September.