After several movies in which she starred as a bubbly, cheerful, girl-next-door, Taapsee Pannu was ready to break the mould. And that’s how her Hindi film Baby , which will hit screens on January 23, came about. “All the roles I was being offered started to sound the same. When I heard of the character in Baby , I so wanted to be a part of it. However, due to my roles in previous films, I was refused, saying that I was too coy and shy. It took a great deal to convince the casting director to give me this chance, and then for director Neeraj Pandey to sign me on,” she says.
In the soon-to-be-released action thriller, Taapsee plays a government agent alongside Akshay Kumar and Rana Daggubati. The movie also stars Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa and Kay Kay Menon.
Talking about the intensive physical training she had over two weeks, she says, “Mostly, it was Krav Maga; Akshay wanted someone to take me through it. Being an action guy himself, he kept track of my progress.” She says that audiences should watch out for the fight sequences which are “not over-the-top but quite believable” as they have been technically choreographed. “I also had to learn to speak Urdu without my thick Punjabi accent! The role I play has none of my characteristics, and is extremely mature,” says Taapsee.
On working with Akshay, she says, “His comic timing, both on and off the screen, is brilliant. He is so spontaneous and it’s good to have him around. He’s very calm and it seems like he can never get angry. And, he’d give me some acting tips as well.”
Up next for Taapsee is Runningshaadi.com , a romantic comedy. “About 90 per cent of the character I play in this is just me,” laughs the actress.
Closer home, the actress is kicked about a significant cameo appearance in the Tamil flick Vai Raja Vai that has been directed by Aishwarya Dhanush. She stars in a fighting sequence that has made use of her knowledge of Krav Maga.
