One of the most talented actors in the Hindi film industry, Taapsee Pannu, who was recently seen in the movie Haseen Dillruba, surprised everyone by turning producer this week. The talented and beautiful actress, who in her 10-year career has carved her own niche in Indian cinema, has launched her own production house Outsiders Films. Subhash K Jha spoke to her about her decision to turn producer, and more.
"It was not a sudden decision at all. I had been advised to turn producer for some time now. But I wasn’t sure. I knew being an actor I wouldn’t have the mindspace to divert into being a full-time producer and wanted to make sure that I was psychologically prepared to have full control over the films I was producing," Taapsee told Jha.
"I wanted a partner who had the expertise to handle the financial-practical side of production while I took care of the creative side. That’s when I got my friend Pranjal Khandhdiya on board. I worked with him as an actor when he was part of Sony Pictures. I could see his level of efficiency and professionalism," she added.
Pranjal was the one who suggested this partnership. Taapsee said, "I think I’d have been insane to refuse it. With him by my side I know I could totally rely on him to handle the production while I could focus on my acting and the creative aspects of production."
One year is what it took Taapsee and Pranjal to lock in our first production and a couple of other projects in the future, she said.
Taapsee is very clear on her priorities as a producer. “I don’t think I needed to turn producer to create opportunities for myself as an actor. I don’t think I lacked opportunities before I turned producer. But yes, one of my targets as a producer is to create opportunities for other actors like me who who come in from the outside and take years to find opportunities. It took me a decade to establish myself. This (the production house) would help some actors to get a platform, so they can make headway quicker than me. The idea is to tell good stories and provide opportunities to other actors.”
Further explaining her motivations as a producer, Taapsee said, “A lot of actors turn co-producers to take a cut in the boxoffice profits. I am not doing that. I am only producing the films where I will have full control, and where me and Pranjal would be able to make the kind of films we believe in.”
Taapsee’s first production is a film, called Blurrr. “But I am not allowed to divulge any information on it right now," she signed off.
Image source: SpotboyE archives, Instagram/taapsee