In a candid revelation, actor Taapsee Pannu has pulled back the curtain on the kind of regressive counsel that was standard for aspiring actresses in the Hindi film industry not too long ago. The actor, known for her forthright opinions, detailed how she was advised to prioritize pairing with established male stars, avoid relationships, and steer clear of complex roles to maintain a 'desirable' image.
The 'Shelf Life' Advice and the Big Star Mandate
Speaking in a recent interview, Taapsee Pannu recalled that during her initial years in Bollywood, senior and experienced members of the film fraternity laid down some hard and fast rules for success. She was explicitly told that a heroine's career has a shelf life of just five to six years. To make the most of this short window, the prescribed formula was simple: act opposite the biggest male stars, irrespective of the age gap.
"I believed everything," Taapsee admitted, reflecting on her early naivete. "They were all senior people, more experienced people telling me that heroines have a shelf life of 5-6 years. You only have to act opposite big stars, no matter how older they are than you. To be the A-lister, you have to just act opposite big A-lister heroes. It didn't matter what your role was."
The Rules on Personal Life and 'Negative' Roles
The restrictive advice extended far beyond film choices and into her personal life. Taapsee revealed that she was instructed to avoid romantic relationships to preserve an 'aspirational' image for the audience. The underlying belief was that an actress's desirability was intrinsically linked to her perceived availability.
"Of course, I was told to not have any affairs or any relationships while becoming a heroine," she shared. "Because once you start dating someone, people will not look at you in the same aspirational light. You are only a desirable heroine if they feel you are single and available."
Furthermore, she was warned against taking on roles with negative or grey shades, as such characters would typecast her as a 'vamp', effectively ending her chances of being a leading lady. The message was clear: conform to a narrow, idealized prototype or risk your career.
Breaking the Mold and Forging Her Own Path
However, Taapsee Pannu eventually chose to disregard this outdated playbook. After believing the advice for a few years, she decided to listen to her own instincts. This shift in mindset aligned with a broader, albeit recent, change in the industry where diverse body types and unconventional roles have begun to be celebrated.
"I believed it, until I didn't," she stated. "It's only very recent that we have started learning every size can look glamorous, there's no formula, but that's not what we were told back then." By choosing scripts based on their merit rather than the star power of her co-actor, and by embracing complex characters, Taapsee carved a unique and respected space for herself in contemporary cinema.
On the work front, Taapsee Pannu was last seen in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba on Netflix in 2024. Her upcoming projects include the Netflix revenge drama Gandhari, slated for release this year, and Haseen Dillruba 3.
