‘I am secure enough to support another character’: Taapsee Pannu on Assi and owning her space

Assi is a hard-hitting social drama that confronts the epidemic of sexual violence in India. The title refers to the average 80 rape cases reported daily, and the film explores the emotional, legal and societal aftermath of such crimes. Excerpts:

 

Q. You played an advocate earlier in Mulk, which was also directed by Anubhav Sinha. Did you think twice before repeating an advocate's role?

A. Anubhav Sinha himself must have thought about it before I did, since he was the one who directed me in Mulk. I was confident it would be written differently because he was aware he was approaching the same actor with another advocate’s role. It actually helped both of us — he knew exactly how different this character could be. I had no fear because I was sure I was in safe hands.

Unlike in Mulk, where I was fighting for my family, my role in Assi deals with the case purely as a public prosecutor who comes across such cases regularly. Raavi (Taapsee’s character) treats the case professionally, and gradually the humane side of this lawyer begins to surface when she realises that no one is doing enough about it — everyone just wants to finish it quickly and move on. I approached this role very differently. As an actor, it’s exciting to embrace the challenge of portraying a similar profession with a striking difference in personality and journey.

Taapsee with Anubhav Sinha on the sets of Assi. Photo: T Series PR Team

Q. Did your prior experience of playing a lawyer help you step into this courtroom drama?

A. I actually went a mile further to understand Raavi. I visited Delhi’s Patiala House Court to observe firsthand how things unfold, since we were recreating a similar courtroom in the film. Real-life court scenes are a stark contrast to what is shown in Hindi films — at times, it almost feels like borderline dark comedy. The coldness and chaos surrounding extreme cases in the courtroom were things I carried back with me from that research and incorporated into this film. So, Assi is very different from my previous courtroom dramas and presents courts very differently from mainstream portrayals.

Q. How did you navigate the multiple emotions Raavi shows in the film?

A. The audience will see me as a confident, intimidating and thorough professional — a lawyer who knows her job very well and cannot be easily manipulated. Raavi is not emotionally vulnerable inside the courtroom. I maintained a performance graph by balancing coldness with drama.

My challenge was to convey the message of the film to society without playing the survivor. It would have been easier to evoke sympathy if I were fighting my own case as a survivor. There’s a point in the climax where I become more emotional than in any other courtroom scene — that’s the moment when my character begins to lose hope in society. Except for that dramatic high point, I remained cold and professional throughout, as required.

'Assi' poster featuring Taapsee Pannu and Kani Kasruti. Photo: T Series PR Team

Q. Your collaborations with directors like Anubhav Sinha, Anurag Kashyap and Sujoy Ghosh have resulted in powerful films. How does your bonding with directors influence your craft?

A. It makes my job much easier. I bond well with my directors, especially those I’ve worked with multiple times. Sujoy and I are hopefully set to collaborate again — though I keep complaining to him that he’s very slow in making films! (laughs)

I only begin working with a director if I deeply respect them; otherwise, I wouldn’t submit myself as an actor to them. I don’t even look at the monitor while performing, so I need complete trust in the person I’m placing myself in the hands of. A good working experience also creates an emotional bond, which makes the relationship strong even after the film wraps. I may not stay in touch with co-actors often, but I always remain connected with my directors.

Q. You were noticed despite a brief role in Baby. Do you still believe the length of a role is insignificant?

A. Absolutely. I featured in Mission Mangal in a relatively small role. Even my last theatrical release, Khel Khel Mein, gave me limited screen space in an ensemble cast. I’m not insecure as an actor. I’m not overconfident either — but I don’t fear that someone else will get more attention than me.

(L-R) Kani Kasruti, Anubhav Sinha and Taapsee Pannu. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

I have no qualms in admitting that Kani’s (Kani Kasruti) character is the heart of Assi, while mine supports her. I’m secure as a human being, not just as an actor. I’m comfortable with someone else receiving more attention. It’s not the end of my world if I don’t get maximum limelight. I know my craft well enough to make my presence felt regardless of screen time.

Q. You recently said OTT platforms are now more interested in big-ticket theatrical releases rather than diverse content. How do you see this shift?

A. I think we are heading towards a suicidal zone for cinema lovers. A varied creative palette is essential, and that’s being sacrificed in this trend. In the bargain, it may also affect the standards of Indian cinema. If similar kinds of films release every Friday, it inevitably compromises quality. I fear audiences will eventually feel saturated and disengage.

Over the last five to six years, I haven’t felt excited by the kind of films being made — largely due to the lack of variety. Audiences wait for OTT releases instead of watching diverse films in theatres, but now digital platforms are also losing interest in such content. We are slowly killing that cinema by not valuing it theatrically. I’m hoping for a routine shift in viewing patterns — something that naturally happens every five to ten years.

Taapsee Pannu while promoting Assi. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. You are known for your outspoken nature. How difficult is it to express views in the current socio-political climate?

A. Nobody likes an opinionated person — especially a woman. That’s the truth in any scenario. It’s difficult to be liked as a woman, even more so if she knows what she wants. We live in a patriarchal society where opinions — particularly from women — are often unwelcome. Women aren’t expected to be self-aware; they’re expected to wait for someone to guide or save them.

I don’t conform to that norm. So yes, my likeability quotient may not be very high among the masses.

(Photos by Avishek Mitra/IBNS / T Series PR Team)