“Creative Bankruptcy”: Taapsee Pannu Calls Out Bollywood’s Typecasting as She Seeks Romantic Comedy Roles

Known for her powerhouse performances in intense dramas and high-stakes thrillers, Taapsee Pannu is ready to trade in the high-octane intensity for something a little lighter. In a candid conversation ahead of her latest project, the actor has expressed frustration over the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole performers, revealing that she is actively campaigning for more romantic comedy roles.

A Demand for Range

Speaking with the media, Pannu made a lighthearted yet pointed plea to filmmakers: “Please tell people, have mercy, give me something light. I would love to see you in a rom-com. I would love to do it too.”

For an actor whose filmography is defined by grit and emotional gravity—such as in Baby and Naam Shabana—this pivot is less about a lack of capability and more about a desire to challenge the industry’s limited perception of her. Pannu argues that once an actor succeeds in a specific genre, studios often exhibit what she describes as a form of “creative bankruptcy.”

“When we see a certain actor who is good with a certain kind of role, genre, or world, [the industry] just wants to play safe and keep casting that actor in the same world,” she noted.

Breaking the “Intensity” Box

Pannu revealed that her path hasn’t been defined by a lack of offers, but by a conscious decision to decline projects that would further solidify her status as the “go-to” for intense, investigative roles. Since her rise to prominence in action-heavy narratives, she has turned down a significant number of scripts that mirrored her past work.

“It’s not my fault if I am only offered 10 intense films,” she explained. “I will choose the best out of it and present that, but it will still be a strong woman, intense film because that’s the only genre that people have started imagining me in.”

She pointed to her 2018 film Manmarziyaan as a testament to her ability to anchor a romantic narrative, yet she finds that producers today struggle to visualize her in similar projects. To scratch that itch, she recently stepped into the comedy space with Khel Khel Mein. “I literally did Khel Khel Mein for me to have fun,” she admitted, crediting director Mudassar Aziz for recognizing her comedic timing and giving her the space to break away from her serious onscreen persona.

Looking Ahead

While she continues to push for lighter scripts, Pannu remains dedicated to her craft. Her latest project, Gandhari, which premiered on Netflix on September 3, sees her returning to the high-stakes drama her audience is accustomed to. Directed by Devashish Makhija and written by Kanika Dhillon, the film features Pannu as a mother navigating a harrowing quest to save her kidnapped daughter, alongside a stellar ensemble cast including Ishwak Singh, Swastika Mukherjee, and Chhaya Kadam.

As Pannu continues to navigate her career, her message to the film fraternity is clear: she is a versatile performer waiting for the right filmmaker to bet on her range rather than her resume. Until then, she remains a formidable presence on screen, even as she holds out hope for a future defined by laughter rather than just intensity.