Taapsee Pannu is once again at the centre of Bollywood conversations, this time after opening up about her career, Gandhari and its unexpected international response in Filmfare’s September–October 2026 cover story. Published on September 30, the candid interview gives an insight into the actor’s unconventional career choices and her experience with one of her most demanding roles.
A Different Kind of Action Role
In Gandhari, Taapsee plays Bani, a mother determined to find her kidnapped daughter. Unlike conventional action roles that often revolve around missions, weapons and carefully planned operations, Taapsee described this film’s action as emotionally driven.
The actor revealed that she performed her own stunts without using a body double. With a short shooting schedule and several action sequences, the physical demands of the role were particularly challenging. For Taapsee, the emotional motivation behind Bani’s actions made the character different from her earlier action-oriented roles.
From Bollywood to a Global Audience
One of the biggest surprises for Taapsee was the international response to Gandhari. In her Filmfare interview, she discussed how the film reached audiences across multiple countries despite being deeply rooted in an Indian setting and story.
The film reportedly reached the top position globally on Netflix and appeared prominently across international markets. Taapsee said the response was unexpected because the team believed they had created a distinctly Indian film.
This international interest is particularly notable because Gandhari is built around Indian characters, social issues and an emotional mother-daughter story rather than a conventional global action formula.
What Did the Reviews Say?
While the audience response has been strong, critical reactions have been more divided. Filmfare’s own review gave Gandhari a 2/5 rating, describing it as a film attempting to combine several elements, including mythology, folklore, investigation, social commentary, women’s empowerment and action.
This contrast between audience interest and critical opinion makes Gandhari an interesting film to discuss. Its popularity demonstrates that viewers can connect strongly with an emotional premise even when critics find the storytelling uneven.
Taapsee’s “Dark Horse” Journey
Filmfare’s interview also highlights why Taapsee describes herself as a “dark horse”. Rather than depending on conventional blockbuster roles, she has repeatedly chosen characters that challenge expectations.
From Pink and Thappad to Badla and Gandhari, her filmography has developed around unconventional female characters and stories.
With Gandhari reaching audiences beyond India and Taapsee continuing to experiment with challenging roles, the Filmfare interview offers a fascinating look at an actor who has built her career by taking a different route through Bollywood.
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