Taapsee Pannu reveals how female film failures affect future projects

Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu has spoken about what she described as a double standard toward female-led films, saying the failure of a major movie can make investors more reluctant to finance projects centered on women.

Speaking during promotions for her upcoming film “Gandhari,” Pannu said female actors face greater scrutiny when they lead big-budget action movies that do not perform as expected.

She said that when a major investment in a female-led film fails, questions are quickly raised about why so much money was spent on the project. Pannu questioned whether male-led films face the same level of scrutiny when they fail to meet expectations.

Pannu said films led by male actors can sometimes be considered successful even when their stories are not exceptional, while female-led movies are often expected to exceed expectations and deliver an unusually strong performance.

According to Pannu, investors can become hesitant to back female-led projects after a high-profile failure, with some planned films being delayed or abandoned before production begins.

Asked whether she had experienced the same situation following the reported failure of Alia Bhatt’s “Alpha,” Pannu said, “Yes, every year.”

Pannu said conversations with investors often change after a major female star’s movie underperforms. She said investors may ask whether projects featuring other female actors can succeed if a film starring a major Bollywood star has failed.

However, Pannu also pointed to the opposite effect when a female-led film succeeds. She said a successful movie can encourage producers and investors to pursue similar projects and create new opportunities for other actresses.

She cited the example of a successful female-led horror film, saying it could prompt the industry to conclude that audiences will support women in such roles and lead to more projects of the same type.

Pannu will next appear in “Gandhari,” in which she plays an action-oriented role. Her comments have renewed discussion about the opportunities available to female actors and the financial risks associated with women-led films in Bollywood.