What is the story about?
Taapsee Pannu has always been vocal about the kind of cinema she wants to be associated with, and her latest comments have once again caught the internet’s
attention. During a recent conversation, the actress reflected on how mainstream films have evolved over the years and admitted that she feels fortunate to have started her career when she did. Taapsee went on to say that she would “prefer retiring” rather than doing certain kinds of films, stressing that her filmography will remain even as cinematic trends change. Her comments soon sparked speculation among netizens, with some wondering if she was indirectly taking a dig at Kiara Advani’s Toxic.
Did Taapsee Pannu take indirect dig at Toxic?
During a recent interview with Suchin Mehrotra, Taapsee Pannu reflected on how much mainstream Hindi cinema has changed over the years. Looking back at the kind of theatrical films that were being made around 2015, the actress admitted that she sometimes finds it hard to believe that era existed.
Taapsee said that an actor like her may not have had the same career if those were still the kinds of films dominating the industry. “Someone like me wouldn't have had a career, you know, if this was the time where only this kind of stuff was getting made," she said. The actress also described herself as fortunate to have had the opportunity to begin her career during that period.
The Gandhari actress then revealed that she recently had a conversation with her family while watching some of the films released over the past few months. The actress candidly admitted that some of the current mainstream offerings are not the kind of cinema she would want to be part of. She said, "I thought whether it is my time to retire."
She continued, "Because I will prefer retiring than doing some of those kind of films, because I'm sure they have their audience.”
Taapsee clarified that she understands such films have an audience, but said that does not necessarily mean she would want to do them herself. “I love my job, but not so much so blindly. I don't love my job blindly, to be doing that, those kind of films," she shared. The actress further explained why she remains particular about the films she chooses. According to Taapsee, trends and genres may evolve with time, but an actor’s filmography remains a permanent part of their career.
Pannu said, “And I firmly believe there's a filmography, right? Times will change, the filmography will not change.” Taapsee added that she wants to be able to look back at her body of work years later without feeling embarrassed by her choices. “10 years after today, maybe the genre, as I said, will change, but my filmography will stay," she said.
Taapsee further added that she would rather prioritise the legacy of her filmography than simply follow the trends of the moment, “So I will probably hold that filmography closer to me than the times.”
What are netizens saying?
Taapsee did not name any film or actor while making these comments. However, her remarks have sparked speculation online, with some netizens linking them to recent mainstream releases, including Kiara Advani’s Toxic.
The Geetu Mohandas directorial, starring Yash alongside Kiara Advani, has been the subject of considerable online discussion, which has led some social media users to interpret Taapsee’s comments as a possible indirect reference to the film.
However, there is no confirmation from Taapsee that her remarks were aimed at Toxic or Kiara Advani. The connection is currently based on netizen speculation rather than a direct statement from the actress.
Meanwhile, Taapsee Pannu is gearing up for Gandhari, an upcoming action-thriller in which she takes on a fierce and emotionally intense role. Directed by Devashish Makhija, the film is set to premiere on September 3, 2026, exclusively on Netflix.
