Actor Taapsee Pannu has long been one of the few voices in Bollywood willing to openly discuss issues many prefer to avoid. From speaking about pay inequality to calling out sexism in the film industry, she has consistently challenged industry norms. Now, the actor has turned the spotlight on another issue she believes continues to affect women in cinema — ageism.In a recent conversation with Times Entertainment, Taapsee spoke about the limited window actresses often have to establish themselves in Hindi films before being judged on the basis of age. According to her, the struggle to secure meaningful roles often overlaps with an industry’s obsession with youth.“I came into the Hindi film industry when I was in my mid-twenties, okay? Now, for three or four years, you’re struggling to get a decent role. By the time you make a mark, you’ve crossed 30. Then they say you’re not young enough to be featured in a rom-com.”The actor pointed out that even when age has little relevance to a character, younger actresses are frequently preferred. She believes male actors rarely face the same scrutiny.“So even till date, there are so many times when I feel like, ‘But you don’t really need a younger person for this role.’ Yet they still want to go younger. It doesn’t really happen the same way with men. Of course, we can all see that. But yes, ageism is a big thing.”Taapsee also reflected on her experiences in the South Indian film industries, where she encountered another form of bias linked to the age and stature of her male co-stars. She revealed that working opposite senior actors often affected how younger actors perceived her.“Even in the South, it used to happen with me. The moment I was cast opposite a relatively senior actor, the younger actors didn’t want to work with me. They were like, ‘Oh no, she’s been opposite that actor, so now…’ You dare say that about Shah Rukh Khan. You know, an actress’s life changes after working with Shah Rukh Khan. So that taboo is not here, but that taboo was there for me when I worked in the South.”The actor suggested that such double standards continue to shape the careers of women in ways that their male counterparts seldom experience.Separately, Taapsee also spoke about body image and fitness, cautioning against excessive exercise and highlighting how the body changes over time. “So instead of actually losing water retention, the body starts retaining it and then that lower belly fat, which might actually not just be fat, it’s also water retention, it stays, and it increases by overworking out, which I really believe people should not do.”On the professional front, Taapsee is gearing up for the release of Gandhari, a Netflix original directed by Devashish Makhija and penned by Kanika Dhillon. She was last seen in Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Assi’.
