Taapsee Pannu speaks up on struggles after Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Dunki'

Taapsee Pannu has honestly talked about how her career has changed since acting with Shah Rukh Khan in Dunki and how she hasn't received any mainstream film offers since. The Thappad starlet told News18 that female leads in big movies are frequently interchangeable and that actresses with greater exposure and connections in the industry have a better chance of getting such parts. 'I feel that all actors are replaceable. It's not like ki yeh role iske ilaava koi aur kar hi nahi sakta. They may do it differently, but I think everyone can pull off every role. But the female characters in these so-called mainstream and commercial films are ones that can be played by anyone. And the basis of landing these roles isn't your talent It's your market, saleability, contacts, visbility, presence and influence. All of these factors more than an actor's talent come into play,' Taapsee Pannu remarked. She further stated, adding, 'And I know it for a fact that I'm lagging behind when it comes to these factors. The only basis on which I can get a film is my talent. The only reason I got to work on Dunki is because Raju sir had seen my work. He puts his foot down for me.' The 39-year-old actress described her casting in Dunki as an unusual decision and gave appreciation to Rajkumar Hirani. Taapsee claimed that because these kinds of opportunities are uncommon, her prospects of securing additional high-profile mainstream movies have been hampered. 'Usually, the characters in a commercial film aren't significant enough and so, it doesn't matter which actress is playing the part. If an actress fits into their budget and has a certain market value, they immediately cast her,' the actress continued. Discussing merit-based opportunities in the industry, she revealed, 'Mainstream films that cast an actress purely on the basis of talent are far and few. And directors like Raju sir, who are so sure of the actress they want, are even fewer.' Gandhari, which chronicles a mother's mission to save her abducted daughter, is where Taapsee Pannu last appeared.