Taapsee Pannu Discusses Success of Southern Films and Differences with Bollywood

As Hindi films face a challenging year at the box office, Taapsee Pannu sheds light on why southern films are performing better. In a recent interview, Pannu, known for her roles in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba and Khel Khel Mein, addressed the growing perception that regional cinema is surpassing Bollywood in success.

Pannu explained that while Hindi-speaking regions primarily see the successes of southern films, they might not be aware of the flops that also occur in those industries. “There also films fail, there also films don’t work after 3-4 days, and they are out of the theatre. It’s just that you don’t get to know about it sitting here,” she said. She emphasized that the ratio of hits to flops is similar across all film industries.

She highlighted a cultural difference in movie-going habits. In southern states, movie viewing is almost akin to a religious ritual. “People are movie lovers. “It’s a ritual there,” Pannu noted, contrasting this with the Hindi-speaking audience, who may find it harder to be drawn to theaters.

Pannu also discussed the work culture in southern cinema compared to Bollywood. Contrary to the belief that southern film businesses are more organized, she revealed that her experience was different. Early in her career, she received daily dialogue sheets instead of bound scripts, a practice she contrasts with the more structured approach she encountered in Bollywood.

“I never received any bound scripts for my films during my time in the southern film industry.” I used to only get scenes, and a lot of things used to change on set,” she said. She noted that even directors known for improvisation, like Anurag Kashyap, provided her with a proper screenplay.

As she continues to work in both industries, Taapsee Pannu’s insights offer a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of Indian cinema.