Mumbai, September 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actor Taapsee Pannu, known for her performances in several acclaimed Bollywood films, says she is comfortable with not having numerous Rs 100-crore blockbusters to her name, as she has consciously prioritised the quality and longevity of her filmography over short-term box-office success.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Taapsee said many films that initially underperformed at the box office eventually gained cult status and were recognised as some of the best works of their era.
“There are a lot of good films that don’t run at the box office. And then after 10 years, we bring them into the list of the best films of the decades. Then we give them cult status,” she said, reflecting on the changing perception of films over time.
Taapsee said this understanding has shaped her career choices, adding that she prefers building a body of work that will remain meaningful rather than chasing temporary box-office numbers.
“My filmography won’t change. It will stay the same,” she said, adding that she wants to look back at her films decades later and still feel proud of the work.
The actor acknowledged that such choices can come with a professional cost, as an actor may be labelled unsuccessful when a film does not perform commercially, only for the same work to receive appreciation years later.
“You are told that your filmography is a flop. And then you have to wait for 10 years for it to get cult status,” she said, describing it as a “weird cycle” that actors have to navigate.
Taapsee said actors must be clear about whether they are making a film simply to achieve a major box-office success or to create something audiences will remember for years.
She candidly acknowledged that she has not enjoyed the kind of ₹100-crore commercial success that has increasingly become a benchmark for Bollywood stardom.
“I am okay being someone who has probably not had 1,000-crore, 5,000-crore films. ₹100-crore films also for that matter. I have not really had many in my career. I am fine with that,” she said.
For Taapsee, being remembered for the characters she has portrayed matters more than the financial scale of her films.
“I would rather be someone who is remembered for the kind of roles I have done,” she said.
Her filmography includes critically acclaimed and female-led projects such as Pink, Mulk, Thappad, Rashmi Rocket, Saand Ki Aankh, Badla and Dunki.
She is now set to appear in Gandhari, in which she plays a desperate mother who embarks on a mission to find her abducted daughter. The film is scheduled to premiere on September 3.
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