If my 2-3 films went flop in the start
I won't have gotten the next chance
because I don't have a god father
If I had a god father
I would've been more relaxed
If it ever happened I'll still get a chance
In 2016 when film came out
I was told that I will take away
all awards home or at least be nominated
I was not even nominated in so many
award shows
because I was nobody
It did hit really hard
and my heart broke
Nobody bothered to notice me for
the longest time
I've been that dark horse
I still am
In an industry that weeks of privilege
it's sometime difficult
if not impossible to sometime make it big
without a god father
what do you do
sometimes even talent gets over looked
you just have to create your own identity
and move on
that's what our guest did in her life
joining us today on a special episode of
women up is Tapsee Pannu
who has definitely created space of
her own in this industry
Welcome Tapsee
This women's day series would
have never ever been
complete if you didn't come on board
As a women you stand out for so many
causes and you've lent your voice
for so many things that
most actors I think before you
were scared to do
were you ever scared or
were you made to feel
actors don't speak like this
No because nobody bothered to
noticed me for the longest time
I have been that dark horse
I still am
I never was the center of attention
or under scrutiny
because people didn't really expect me to
eventually become what I have or
they didn't really expect
let's just say that
So I was never
I never had this big
you know entourage of the kind
that will always keep telling me
what to do what not to do
because I never thought she'll last long anyway
really
Ya Ya
I had people very openly
writing me off saying
nobody wants to meet you
don't think there's a good response
for you in the market
I don't think your kind will fit the bill
So I've had
and even thought I had success
in the industry not even south
even when I came here in beginning
when I had hits
It was not like the thought like
two three more
and than you know she will fade out
but than unexpectedly
because I wasn't under scrutiny
and over judgement and all that
I guess they just never looked at me
you know someone who can take over
or just pass like that
so I guess ya that's what has happen
and nobody bothers to tell you
But one thing is good that
you've made your own path
and today there'll be a lot of other
people who would love to be
who you're as a person as an actor
as everything
Do you somewhere look back
Have you ever met somebody
who you've met before
who tried to like bog you down
who have walked up to you
and have you seen perception change
around you like you said
I have seen that and
they were the same people who wrote me
off saying nobody really wants to meet you
or there's no response for you in the
market and like we are telling
people around just take queue
from her filmography
so that's the kind of difference
I've seen
and I don't take it seriously
coming to that
Ya I don't take it seriously
because I don't take myself too seriously
because I feel
I don't thing I was something big
some king types
I think I'm just living my life
enjoying everyday
yes you know as a normal
human being I do feel like
taking revenge but I don't take
revenge in the convectional meaning
of the word
for me revenge is
by doing great work
Ya so just seeing that person walk up to me
and say something otherwise
it's a validation
So it's done
I won't even tell that person
that you said that remember
I won't even say that
it's inside me head I'm like okay
it's done Tapsee move on
So like that
so I don't take myself too seriously
I kind of enjoy everyday
even the failure I enjoy thing
okay this is the next challenge
I want to know that you've played
rebellious character and not in the
usual term of being rebellious you know
Have you been rebellious as a kid
while growing up
during teenage years
have you been like that
I think I've been very aggressively rebellious
person throughout my life
I've been a very vocal rebel
in my life
I am talking about
well growing up also
I've been the kind who asks questions
all the time to my family
why should I do this
why should I not do this
why are you asking me
to be like this
and I've been constantly been compared
I was constantly compared to my
cousins females
cousin sister
who were relatively more to sile
and more obedient and all the time
being told that why ain't you like that
why do you fight so much
you argue a lot
I've grown up hearing this about me
you argue a lot
that's because I want to know why
or why not
and than you don't give me a
logical answer I won't accept it
So I used to be dark horse in the
family also
so nobody apart from the fact that
yes they expected me to do
well in academics because I've always
been consistently good scorer
but they never thought
I'll make this kind of a mark
in life or people will talk
people will talk about me beyond my family
People talk about your personality
and you know like you said
I want to tell viewers that this is also
somewhere I connect with you
like I think when I was 15 years
whatever I used to speak
people said he is speaking
beyond his age
and today when I was 25 - 27
now 28
I think those same things I'm saying
but It's heard a little more
it's people pay more respect
they pay more attention to what you're saying
I'm saying the same things
has that happen to you
I think I say different things now
but the fact that now my questions are
taken more seriously and
nobody tries to put it aside
saying that she argue's a lot
get her side
usually it was like that
you know my parents use to feel
very awkward and use to give me
instruction before going out of the house
you'll not argue there
they used to give me guideline before
taking me out of the house that
don't start fighting with us
you know somewhere in someone else's
house or somewhere out doors
So I used to get those instructions
Now they understand if
I know what I am talking
so they don't really bother correcting me
maybe they've just given up otherwise
you know when I said that
this is the industry where without a
godfather it's very difficult to make
a positioning
it is true
like even talent sometimes and most
of the times gets over looked
there are so many talented person
I'm sure there are so many people
who are much much talented than me
who probably have not gotten their due
and you're admitting that
of course I am
so many of them are so talented
and much more talented than me
who probably have not been able to get
the due attention that they deserve
but do you think that today the
nepotism debate being such a huge
conversation
there are also star kids who are great actors
yess
and there are also star kids like you just
admitted they also admit like
Janhvi has gone on record saying
that I believe that when I am here
I have taken someone else's poistion
so I need to justify it
and people should feel like
I've taken I've snatch somebody's
opportunity which I feel I've
How do you take it right now
it's a very diacotimas situation
in the industry today
you can't really blame them for
being born in the families they're born in
okay. first of all that
and nepotism happens in every industry
just that ours in front of the camera
and dinner table discussion
for so many families and houses
so we repeat apart more
and this is like the rule of the game
when you enter the film industry you know
there'll be favoritism and nepotism
like any other industry
so either you can just
keep talking or stay bitter about
for rest of your career and keep
talking about it and keep winning about it
or you can just accept it and make it
your way through it
and because it's not gonna change
the more you talk about it
even now people are aware of nepotism
they know it
but it'll not change
it is still not changed
but than what do you wanna do about it
you just wanna keep winning for rest
of your life and career
or you wanna just still make your way
I don't want to keep winning about it
I knew about it
Ya you never played victim
Ya I always known about this fact
I've been rejected and thrown out of
because lot of star kids
because of recommendation and all
But I knew that this is going to happen
But did it affect you ever in the beginning
of course it makes you cry in the beginning
I mean even now if it happens
it's not like I feel like now this won't happen
it can happen now also
and it will hurt me I can make
me feel really bad
but for how long
how long I set and crib about it
I cannot say I wasn't told about this
I knew this happens
I still decided to choose to be
in this industry
I knew my path is going to be longer
it's going to be tougher
But you don't see the other side
time and again I've tried to glorify and
show audiences the beautiful side of
being an outsider
My struggle and my achievements
are my own
Nobody can today take the credit
that because of me or because of one's support
she is where she is
so that nobody can feel
if she takes her hand away she will come
crashing down
good or bad it has been my journey
so I think thats the best part
about being an outsider
and apart from the fact that
yes you've seen your life through
your own eyes
you've lived it
you've lived those hard times
so
you can project and act them out
very well in front of the camera
that's why probably those character
of mine can feel more real to people
because I've lived that life
so I know how to inact that
in front of the camera
I think it's a bautiful thing
to be an outsider
ever happened like that
when you felt
or do you think as a performer
if you had a god father
despite not being from an industry
or whatever
because you can't choose family
if you had a god father backing you
do you think your journey would have
been different
ofcousre ya it would have been different
I would have been more relaxed
while selecting projects thinking
if mistakes happen it will be okay
I'll still get another chance
it is not like
now I guess it's been too many years
I'd to consistently prove
myself with every film
not just one not just 2 hits
I'd to prove myself with every film
if 2-3 films went flop in starting
I won't have gotten the next chance
because I don't have a god father
if I had a god father
I would have been more relaxed
I will still get another chance
that comfort will be there
I am telling you of an actor
male actor
whose not from the industry and
I won't name because he didn't go
on record saying this
so he said that in first few parties
he went into he felt very unwanted
Ya you do in the beginning
forget about the parties
because I'm not a party person
so I'm not really been to many parties
before or now
but I've felt very unwanted in
the events
the events or awards or you know
this kinds of events that are created
and industry people are call to attend
certain events screenings for that matter
I have felt little unwanted
because I didn't know too many people
and also because I'd done a dozen films
in south before I came here
the way I was treated was almost like
I'm like any other struggling
new comer who is
who's somehow manage to get one film
but you don't know about the future
because I don't take myself too seriously
It was not like it scared me or something
But it used to make me feel little sad
because I worked really hard and created
the filmography of at least 12 films in
south which have done really well
my first film won 6 national awards
I didn't
Arkalum won 6 national
my tamil film
I was launched by Ravendra Rao sir
who launched women like Shridevi
he is known for launching heroines
so I just had kind of a thing
you know very comfortable position
in south
when I came in here
there were people ahead of me
who were sitting in the front row
I was sitting in the 5 row
who haven't even done half the
no of films I have done
so it used to feel very awkward
just because it is not Hindi
you don't value the actor
which felt awkward so
But again I don't take myself seriously
did you stop going
I stop going
I stop going because I was like
let me channelise my energy in a
in the right way
let me just work and do some kind of films
where they will know who I am
and than let's attend parties
so I waited for 3 years
Today you're creating a clan you your own
Ya
let's just say it's a Pannu camp
it's a Pannu camp
the directors who you're repeating
and who are repeating you
because they've a certain confidence in you
which is great
do you think that there are also certain
directors who are celebrated
in their own right
who have not really walked up to you
and offered a film. they could've maybe
ya
given the position that you've got
you're bankable star
you are doing 90 crore business
which is great
do you think that somewhere
that has still to change
Ya and I'm still hopefull it will change
someday I mean it's not like I've planned this
to happen where I have directors
to repeated me
more than once or even maybe twice
very soon
but i'm not giving up hope
on the others also
I mean maybe it becomes so good oneday
that they feel like okay now
even lets just give it to her
I've been this persistent
because I've always felt like
how much more you'll avoid
that's how I have created
How much more
you'll avoid me
so I'm like someday you'll realise it
that I'm there
so I patiently wait till than
today you get awards for your performances
you're getting best critic award
haha I'm not popular as yet
does that affect you
because you've delivered a very big hit
so I honestly felt like that was a
very challenging performance to potrait
ofcousre
but I was not even nominated for that
so far in any award show
but than you know you should
2016 my expectations out of getting awards
for my performances dropped drastically
and that's got nothing to do with
taking away the credibility of xyz award shows
I'm just saying 2016 when PINK came out
I was told I'll take away all awards home
at least be nominated
I was not even nominated
in so many award shows
because I was nobody
okay so it did hit really hard
and my heart broke
and I'm very vocal about that
whenever people ask me about that
that 1 year I felt very bad
but you know what I did to me was
first of all took this whole thing
as a challenge
that every year I will deliver such a
performance
that how long you'll avoid me
how long
so it is the 4 year now
that consistently I've to keep
delivering performance
and than I'm finally getting it
now the only thing is the kind of
the excitement and the madness
I would have felt
I would have acknowledged for
that performance which was a
you miss that
ya
I miss that excitement because
now it's like I'll prove it to you
I'll prove it to you again
it is a validation of certain kind for sure
because but you don't understand
there are bunch of jury memebers
okay their decision is subjective
its they who decides you win
or you don't win
doesn't decide for your entire country
there are certain bunch of people
with subjective decision
I might like a performance
you might not like a performance
but I'm the authority so
award will go to that person
doesn't mean
but there is a lot of law being also
ya ya there is
people have been very vocal about it
well I'm the living example of the fact that
you can win without law being
it will probably take you 4 to 5
extra years
but you will
I don't have the channels
or I don't have any source to
do law being so
the fact that I'm getting awarded today
I can guarantee you
you can
it will take you longer time but you
sooner or later if you
persistant enough you'll get it
do you feel that for a women
it's more difficult to create
their own identity first
and the society at large cannot
handle a person with strong opinionated
mindset and a personality
because of the second the first happens
it is difficult because people
first of all they're not used to seeing
women speak up much
and that's been our thing since years
we get very baffled suddenly
when we see a women voicing her opinion
so strongly
we've always seen her standing a little behind
you know trying to make her presence
felt here and there little bit
but not out there in open
saying things as much
that's why I feel you know
I find this as a reason
why I do get trolled very often on social media
and people make fun of my fatigue reply
is because they're not use to seeing a female
or female actor speak up
and answer back like that
we're generally expected to be quite
and let it go and you know
you don't answer in this tone
because you don't give it back
in that kind of sarcasm
so they don't expect us to get back
so it's quite new for us to watch
so many women speak up and
stand for themselves
which obviously will take time
because so many decades we've been living
pre conditionings is
ya so give it some time to break
there's already a crack
there is
there is already a crack so
let's just keep pushing it
all of us together can do it
only I won't so all the women out there
men women everybody
everyone together can it so
it will take some time but will get somewhere
on that note we'll move on to our next segment
which is the fun segment
so we are back with Tapsee Pannu
for the fun segment
which is called women we love
so Tapsee there are a set of 7 questions
you've to select 5
I'll ask you all 5 one by one
you've to answer 3 of them correctly
if you do we give you a gift
it's a plot line test
so I'll give you a plot line
you've to guess the film from the plot line
okay
A sweet blind girl Zooni
meets the flirty Rehan
she ignores her friend's warning
but she soon realises
she made a wrong choice
when she finds out
that he is a terrorist
she eventually kills him also
the star is a superstar
Fanaa
yess
so you've got one
I was like I know it why it's not coming to me
okay it's a 6 seconds challenge
name 4 Indian sports women
Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Mithali Raj,
Hima Das
yes absolutely
you're playing Mithali Raj
who better than you to play
guess from the clues
I'll give you 3 clues
you've to guess the movie
4 friends, life choices, one shadi
Veere Di Wedding
yes
3 out of 3
you got the gift but we'll still ask
you the other two
before Parineeta your
Mission Mangal co-star Vidya Balan
starred in a TV show
which was it
Hum panch
waah 4 out of 4
we've grown up watching it
Amazing that show
okay this one is little difficult
we all love Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi
they've actually set out the rules for
these kind of films
How many films have they done together
I only know one
which is
Earth
ya that is one
I will guess. Its teen
guess is also right
it's right
it is three
oh nice
they've done 3 films
Earth, Mandi and Nishanth
so wow 5 on 5
it's a clear victory
clearly she knows all the women we love
My luck line is stronger than my lifeline
so this is an special gift hamper for you
because you've been amazing
Thank you
I hope you like it
Thank you so much for this lovely conversation
like I said Women up wouldn't been possible
without having Tapsee Pannu on board
and believe me when people say
I've heard it a lot of times that
Man Up
I think it's time India and the world says
Women Up
Thank you