Taapsee Pannu on doing big films: Heroes decide who the heroine is going to be

Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu, in a recent interview with Indian Express, shed light on the pay disparity she faces when working on major projects like Dunki compared to films where she is the leading star.
Pannu revealed that, contrary to popular belief, she is often paid more for films in which she plays the central role than in larger productions where she shares the screen with high-profile male actors.
“Funnily, people think I do films like Judwaa or Dunki for money, that I get paid a lot,” she said. “But no, it is the opposite – I get paid more to do films that are headlined by me, like Haseen Dillruba. Other films don’t really pay me much because they feel they are doing a favour by taking me up in that kind of a film,” Pannu explained, adding that this mindset suggests that since a “big hero” is already part of the project, there is no need for a highly paid female lead.
Pannu further addressed the control that male leads exert in casting decisions, highlighting that in most big-budget films, heroes influence the selection of their female co-stars.
“Now, even the audience knows that heroes decide who the heroine is going to be in most of their films, until you have a very big, super successful director, who has his or her own audience. Then the director will take a call no matter what,” she noted.
She added that in approximately 75 percent of films, male leads have substantial say over the casting choices.
According to the Pink actor, actors often prefer to work with female actors who are currently “in trend” or drawing significant audience attention. “Some are secure, others think, ‘Let me cast someone who will not overshadow me,’” she remarked, touching on the competitiveness within the industry and the underlying gender dynamics in Bollywood.
On the professional front, Taapsee was seen in Khel Khel Mein, alongside an ensemble cast of Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan, Ammy Virk, Pragya Jaiswal, Vaani Kapoor and Aditya Seal. She will be next seen in Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan with Pratik Gandhi.