Taapsee Pannu says ‘Dunki’ was a gift after 10 years of struggle: ‘I’m not a commercial, mainstream, viable heroine’ |

After spending ten years carving out a space in the film industry, Taapsee Pannu sees her role in ‘Dunki’ as a well-earned breakthrough. She admits that landing such large-scale commercial projects isn’t easy for actors with her trajectory, but believes her earlier, offbeat choices slowly reshaped how the industry sees her—transforming her into a credible mainstream lead.

Taapsee Pannu says landing a film like ‘Dunki’ took years of steady work and was never guaranteed. The actor described the Rajkumar Hirani directorial as a rare opportunity in her career and called it a reward after a decade in the industry. Pannu stressed that big commercial films remain difficult for her and for many actors who are not seen as typical mainstream choices.

Taapsee Pannu on struggle to land ‘Dunki’

Speaking to SCREEN, Pannu explained why films like ‘Dunki’ do not come easily to her. “A film like Dunki is difficult to get for someone like me because I’m not considered a commercial, mainstream, viable heroine,” she said. She added that the role worked in her favor because the character needed someone with her sensibility.

Pannu linked the opportunity to her earlier choices. “I got Dunki because I did films like Assi and Gandhari. These films have given me my space and identity in the industry. This is my reality,” she noted. She described ‘Dunki’ as a “gift” she received after more than ten years in cinema.The actor admitted that even after success, large commercial projects are uncertain. “I don’t know how long it will take for me to get another one. It’s still a struggle because people have to come to terms with the idea of presenting me in a more glamorous, mainstream space,” she said.

Industry perceptions and new projects

Pannu also pointed out what she sees as an irony. “I started my career in the South with massy films, and my Hindi film debut was with David Dhawan. It doesn’t get more commercial and in-your-face than that,” she remarked.Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, ‘Dunki’ marked his first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan. The film featured Taapsee Pannu alongside Boman Irani, Anil Grover, and Vikram Kochhar, with Vicky Kaushal in a special appearance.Meanwhile, Pannu is earning praise for her role in ‘Assi,’ a courtroom drama directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film also stars Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and focuses on urgent legal and social questions.