'I'd rather retire': Taapsee Pannu reacts to women's roles in 'those kind of films' amid Toxic row

Taapsee Pannu (Picture via Instagram)

Taapsee Pannu has opened up about her approach to choosing films, saying she would rather retire than be part of projects that could leave her embarrassed about her own filmography. The actor made the remarks while promoting her upcoming Netflix film Gandhari, amid discussions around the changing landscape of Hindi cinema.

Taapsee Pannu reacts to new cinema

Speaking about the kind of films being made today compared with when she entered the industry in Suchin Mehrotra's podcast, Taapsee said she feels fortunate to have started her career at a time when filmmakers were exploring a wider variety of stories. She reflected that had the current trend dominated when she began, an actor like her may not have found the same opportunities. She said, "Was that a dream era? Someone like me wouldn't have a career if this was the time where only this kind of stuff was getting made."

Taapsee also revealed that she recently discussed the state of cinema with her family after watching some of the films released in recent months. In a light-hearted comment, she wondered whether it was time for her to retire. She clarified that she would prefer stepping away from acting rather than taking up certain kinds of projects, even though she acknowledged that such films may have their own audience. She said, "I would rather retire than do some of those kind of films that are being made today with female actresses. I would prefer to retire rather than participate in projects that do not align with my professional values."

Why Taapsee won't blindly accept roles?

The actor stressed that her love for acting does not mean she will accept every project that comes her way. As she quipped, "I love my job, my commitment to my filmography is more important than blindly accepting roles in films that prioritise shock value or hyper masculinity over meaningful storytelling." She emphasised that while cinematic trends and audience preferences may evolve, an actor's filmography remains a lasting part of their career.

Her comments have drawn attention amid the ongoing conversation around Toxic, starring Yash and Kiara Advani, which faced criticism over its portrayal of women and intimate sequences in its promotional material. Yash has defended the film, saying it was created with a specific artistic intention and was aimed at conversations relevant to Gen Z.

However, Taapsee did not directly name Toxic, Yash or Kiara Advani while making her comments. The connection has largely emerged through online discussions and speculation.

Meanwhile, Taapsee is gearing up for Gandhari, which is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 3. Her latest remarks underline her preference for choosing projects based on creative conviction and the kind of legacy she wants her filmography to represent, rather than simply following prevailing commercial trends.