Taapsee Pannu (born 1 August 1987) is an Indian film actress who primarily works in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. She has three Filmfare Awards to her name.
Pannu began her acting career with the Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam (2010) and then moved on to Tamil cinema with the critically and commercially successful Aadukalam (2011). She has since appeared in films such as Mr. Perfect (2011), Sahasam (2013), Arrambam (2013), Kanchana 2 (2015), Ghazi (2017), and Game Over (2019).
In Hindi films, she frequently plays the lead female character in women-centric films. She made her Bollywood debut in 2013 with the comedy film Chashme Baddoor. She went on to work in Hindi films such as Baby (2015), Pink (2016), Naam Shabana (2017), The Ghazi Attack (2017), Judwaa 2 (2017), Mulk (2018), Manmarziyaan (2018), Badla (2019), Mission Mangal (2019), Saand Ki Aankh (2019), Thappad (2020), Haseen Dillruba (2021), Rashmi Rocket (2021), Dobaaraa (2022), and Blurr (2022).
In addition to acting, Pannu owns The Wedding Factory, an event management company. She also owns the badminton team Pune 7 Aces, which competes in the Premier Badminton League.
Early years
Taapsee Pannu was born in New Delhi on August 1, 1987, to Dilmohan Singh Pannu and Nirmaljeet. She belongs to the Jat Sikh community. Her father is a retired real estate agent, and her mother is a stay-at-home mom. Shagun, her younger sister, is also present. She attended Mata Jai Kaur Public School in Ashok Vihar and went on to study Computer Science Engineering at Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology.
Pannu worked as a software engineer after graduating. She became a full-time model after auditioning for and being chosen for Channel V's 2008 talent show Get Gorgeous, which led her to acting. Pannu has appeared in numerous print and television commercials and has won several modelling titles, including "Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face" and "Safi Femina Miss Beautiful Skin" at the 2008 Femina Miss India competition.
She has modelled for Reliance Trends, Red FM 93.5, UniStyle Image, Coca-Cola, Motorola, Pantaloon, PVR Cinemas, Standard Chartered Bank, Dabur, Airtel, Tata Docomo, World Gold Council, Havells, and Vardhman. After a few years, she lost interest in modelling because she believed she could never achieve proper recognition through modelling, but only through films, and she eventually decided to act.
Career
More information: The filmography of Taapsee Pannu
2010-2015: Initial work
Pannu made her film debut in K. Raghavendra Rao's romantic musical Jhummandi Naadam in 2010. She played the daughter of a millionaire from the United States who travels to India to study traditional Telugu music. Pannu received three more Telugu offers prior to the film's release. Her next film, Aadukalam (2011), marked her Tamil film debut. She portrayed an Anglo-Indian girl who falls in love with a rural man played by Dhanush. The film is set in Madurai and revolves around cockfights. It received positive reviews and went on to win six National Film Awards at the 58th National Film Awards. A Sify reviewer said of her role, "Debutant Taapsee is a promising find and she suits the character of an Anglo-Indian girl to the T." She returned to Telugu cinema with Vastadu Naa Raju (2011), starring alongside Vishnu Manchu. Later that year, she made her Malayalam film debut in Doubles (2011), alongside Mammootty and Nadiya Moidu. "Taapsee Pannu as Saira Banu, whose entry into the scene becomes the bone of contention between the siblings, has nothing noteworthy to do," Rediff's Paresh C Palicha wrote.
Pannu at the Chashme Baddoor audio launch in 2013.
Pannu appeared briefly in her next film, Mr. Perfect (2011). She co-starred with Prabhas and Kajal Aggarwal in the film. She appeared in Veera (2011), a high-budget film starring Ravi Teja and Kajal Aggarwal, which received mixed reviews. She was then seen in her second Tamil film, Vandhaan Vendraan, which received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office. Her next film was Krishna Vamsi's Mogudu, in which she played a traditional Telugu girl opposite Gopichand and received critical acclaim. During this time, she worked on several Telugu films, including Gundello Godari, Daruvu, and Shadow.
Pannu made her Hindi film debut in 2013, co-starring with Siddharth, Rishi Kapoor, Divyendu Sharma, and Ali Zafar in David Dhawan's Chashme Baddoor. The remake of the eponymous 1981 film received universally negative reviews but was a box-office success. She was later seen in the big-budget action thriller Arrambam, alongside Ajith Kumar, Nayanthara, and Arya. Her performance in the film earned her the Most Enthusiastic Performer-Female Award at the 2014 Edison Awards.
After a year of no releases, she was noticed for her supporting role as undercover agent Shabana Khan in Akshay Kumar's film Baby (2015), directed by Neeraj Pandey. Later, she had two Tamil releases, the horror comedy Muni 3 with Raghava Lawrence and Aishwarya R. Dhanush's Vai Raja Vai, in which she made a cameo.
Breakthrough in Hindi Films from 2016 to 2019
Pannu was approached by Shoojit Sircar for the courtroom drama Pink while filming Running Shaadi. She was "curious and excited" about the subject because it had not "been addressed head-on in mainstream cinema." The film, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang, followed three girls as they battled a molestation case against a politician's nephew. The film and Pannu's performance were both well received. Pannu, along with the other two ladies, "deliver natural performances as strong but emotionally vulnerable women, without a hint of affectation," according to Rajeev Masand. Pink was a commercial success, with a worldwide revenue of $1.08 billion (US$14 million). Pannu later stated that the film was a watershed moment in her career.
Pannu at the Pink 2016 premiere.
Pannu's first film of 2017 was the romantic comedy Running Shaadi, in which she played a Punjabi girl who assists couples who are eloping to marry. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised her performance. It was followed by the naval war drama The Ghazi Attack, which was inspired by the mysterious sinking of the PNS Ghazi during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. The film was shot in both Telugu and Hindi at the same time and performed well at the box office. Pandey noticed that Pannu's seven-and-a-half-minute sequence in Baby as special agent Shabana Khan was well received, so he "decided to give the story an arc." Pannu reprised her role in the sequel, Naam Shabana. She trained in various forms of mixed martial arts, including Kd and Krav Maga, for the role. Both the film and Pannu's performance received mixed reviews, with Sarita A. Tanwar of Daily News and Analysis praising her for being "fantastic in every scene" and Udita Jhunjhunwala of Mint saying she is "hardly likeable" in the film. Pannu went on to play a ghost in the Telugu horror comedy film Anando Brahma and the protagonist's girlfriend in the action comedy Judwaa 2. The latter, a reboot of the 1997 film of the same name, was a commercial success, grossing over 2 billion (US$25 million).
Pannu's first release of the year was Dil Juunglee (2018), in which he co-starred with Saqib Saleem. It failed to make an impression on both critics and audiences. Shaad Ali's sports drama Soorma, based on the life of field hockey player Sandeep Singh, was her follow-up (played by Diljit Dosanjh). Soorma became a financial success despite mixed reviews. Pannu was then cast as a lawyer in Anubhav Sinha's Mulk. According to Pannu, the film portrays true patriotism and nationalism without taking sides. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in called Pannu's performance one of the film's "strong turns," and it earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress (Critics).
Pannu played Rumi Bagga, a free-spirited girl caught in a love triangle, in Anurag Kashyap's romantic drama Manmarziyaan alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal after playing an antagonist in the Telugu action thriller Neevevaro. The film premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival to favourable reviews, including praise for Pannu's performance. Anupama Chopra described her performance as "mercurial, mysterious, and maddening," adding, "With her cloud of red hair enveloping her, Rumi appears to be a woman on a warpath." She also appeared in two short films that year: Baarish aur Chowmein and Nitishastra.
2019-present: Prominent actress
Pannu is promoting her new film. Badla
Sujoy Ghosh's mystery thriller Badla, an official remake of the 2016 Spanish film The Invisible Guest, was Pannu's first release in 2019. It was also her second time working with Amitabh Bachchan. Initially, she was offered a supporting role, and the film featured a male lead. Pannu persuaded the producer to have a female play the lead role, which he agreed to and offered her the role. Badla received positive reviews, as did Pannu's performance as shrewd businesswoman Naina Sethi. In her review of the film, film critic Namrata Joshi stated that Pannu is "in fine form," and the film performed well at the box office.
Pannu then played a game designer who uses a wheelchair and battles a home invasion in Ashwin Saravanan's psychological thriller Game Over. The film was shot in both Tamil and Telugu at the same time. Pannu had to be in a wheelchair for 12 hours a day for 25 days while filming. Saibal Chatterjee praised the film and her performance, saying that Pannu "is never less than convincing" and "may be the primary reason why you should go out and watch this film."
She then portrayed an ISRO scientist in Mission Mangal, a space drama about India's first interplanetary expedition, the Mars Orbiter Mission. Pannu liked the idea of a space movie starring several leading ladies. Mission Mangal was Pannu's biggest financial success, with a global collection of over 2.9 billion (US$36 million). Tushar Hiranandani's biographical film Saand Ki Aankh, co-starring Bhumi Pednekar, was her final film of the year. Pannu played Prakashi Tomar, one of the world's oldest sharpshooters, for which she underwent three months of pistol shooting training. Anna M. M. Vetticad praised her performance, writing that both Pannu and Pednekar "deliver equally finely tuned, sensitive performances." Pannu and Pednekar were named Filmfare Critics Award winners for Best Actress.
Pannu attended a Saand Ki Aankh event in 2019 with co-star Bhumi Pednekar.
Pannu's only film in 2020 was Anubhav Sinha's social drama Thappad, in which she played Amrita, a housewife who files for divorce after her husband slaps her. She claimed that the character's "righteousness, maturity, and ability to handle any situation" caused her to suffocate. The film, as well as Pannu's performance, received critical acclaim. The Indian Express' Shubhra Gupta wrote that she "drives the film, but the effort she puts into her performance shows." Pannu won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and was nominated for the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress.
Haseen Dillruba, a romantic murder mystery starring Vikrant Massey, was Pannu's first release in 2021. The film premiered on Netflix on July 2, 2021, and became the most-watched Hindi film on the platform that year. Both the film and Pannu's performance were however poorly received by critics, with Rohan Naahar from Hindustan Times calling it a "hot mess" and describing it as "illogical" and "ill-conceived" while adding that "Pannu's performance as a bored housewife named Rani is all over the place". According to Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta, "Pannu's delivery in her films remains the same, only the costume changes."
She then starred alongside Vijay Sethupathi in the Tamil-language horror comedy Annabelle Sethupathi. Rashmi Rocket, a sports drama about an Indian track and field athlete who was subjected to gender testing after being diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, was her final film of the year. "Pannu once again proves her mettle," said Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India. Her effort to celebrate Rashmi's victory and endure her pain is as genuine as it gets, and the actress never fails to make us root for her character."
She will appear in the Telugu film Mishan Impossible, directed by Swaroop RSJ, in July 2021. It is her second film in the Telugu film industry, following Anando Brahma in 2017. The film is set to be released on April 1, 2022.
Pannu appeared in Looop Lapeta, an official remake of the 1998 German film Run Lola Run, in 2022. It will be available on Netflix on February 4, 2022. She went on to win Best Actress in a Web Original at the Filmfare OTT Awards. She then starred in the film Shabaash Mithu, directed by Srijit Mukherji and based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women's national cricket team, Mithali Raj. The film was panned by critics and audiences alike and was a box-office flop. Her following film of the year was Dobaaraa, a remake of the 2018 Spanish thriller Mirage (2018), and her second collaboration with director Anurag Kashyap. Blurr, a remake of the Spanish thriller film Julia's Eyes, was released online on Zee5 in December (2010). After Dobaara, this is Tapsee's second Spanish film remake (2022).
In the news
Pannu at the IIFA Awards in 2017
Pannu was ranked 67th on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list in 2018 with an estimated income of Rs. 15.48 crore (US$1.9 million). She was ranked 68th for the second time in 2019. She was named to the magazine's 30 Under 30 list in 2017. She was ranked No. 36 in The Times Most Desirable Women in 2019, and No. 23 in 2020.
Pannu manages The Wedding Factory, an event management company she co-owns with her sister Shagun and friend Farah Parvaresh. In 2018, she purchased the badminton team Pune 7 Aces, which competes in the Premier Badminton League.
Pannu used the hashtag #WhyTheGap to raise awareness about children's health and gender parity on Twitter in 2019. Pannu has also worked as a brand ambassador for companies such as Uber, Garnier, Nivea, Kurkure, and Women's Horlicks.
On December 24, 2022, she appears on NDTV's "Jai Jawan" and is put to the test.
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Santosham Film Awards | Best Actress (Jury) | Gundello Godari | Won |
| TSR – TV9 National Film Awards | Best Actress | Mogudu | Won | |
| 2014 | Edison Awards | Most Enthusiastic Performer – Female Award | Arrambam | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Tamil | Nominated | ||
| South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tamil | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Stardust Awards | Best Actor (Female) | Pink | Nominated |
| BIG Zee Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor in a Social Film – Female | Nominated | ||
| Jagran Film Festival | Best Actor (Female) – Jury Special Award | Won | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Woman Of The Year | Won | |||
| 2018 | Zee Cine Awards | Best Actress (Jury Choice) | Naam Shabana | Nominated |
| Extraordinary Impact Award – Female | Won | |||
| 2019 | Screen Awards | Best Actress | Manmarziyaan | Nominated |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Mulk | Nominated | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor – Female (Viewers' Choice) | Nominated | ||
| Filmfare Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Nominated | ||
| GQ Style & Culture Awards 2019 | Excellence in Acting | Manmarziyaan | Won | |
| Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2019 | Jodi Kamaal Ki Award (Shared with Bhumi Pednekar) | Saand Ki Aankh | Won | |
| 2020 | 65th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Won | |
| 26th Screen Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Badla | Nominated | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Won | ||
| 21st IIFA Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Best Actress | Game Over | Won | |
| 2021 | 66th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Thappad | Won |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | 22nd IIFA Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| 67th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Rashmi Rocket | Nominated | |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Haseen Dillruba | Nominated | ||
| 2022 Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Actress in Web Original Film | Looop Lapeta | Won |
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Maggie, Glam-doll, Goddess of Flop Heroes |
| Profession(s) | Actress, Model |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 165 cm in meters- 1.65 m in feet inches- 5’ 4” |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 1 August 1987 |
| Age (as in 2019) | 35 Years |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| School | Mata Jai Kaur Public School, Ashok Vihar, Delhi |
| College/University | Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute Of Technology, New Delhi |
| Educational Qualification | B.Tech in Computer Science |
| Debut | Film (Telugu): Jhummandi Naadam (2010) Film (Tamil): Aadukalam (2011) Film (Malyalam): Doubles (2011) Film (Hindi): Chashme Baddoor |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian |
| Hobbies | Reading, Riding Bikes, Playing Squash, Dancing |
| Awards | 2012: Santosham Film Awards for Best Actress (Jury) for Mr. Perfect 2013: South Africa India Film And Television Awards for Debut Actor of the Year – Female for Chashme Baddoor 2014: Edison Awards for Most Enthusiastic Performer-Female Award for Arrambam 2017: Lux Golden Rose Awards for Rising Star Of The Year, FiIms of India Online Awards for Special Jury Awards for Pink 2018: Lux Golden Rose Awards for Break Through Performer Of The Year Award, Zee Cine Awards for Extraordinary Impact Award – Female, Hindustan Times (HT) Most Stylish Awards under category HT Most Stylish Breakthrough Performer, GeoSpa AsiaSpa Awards for Best Actress Critics(Female) for Naam Shabana |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | N/A |
| Parents | Father- Dilmohan Singh Pannu Mother- Nirmaljeet Pannu |
| Siblings | Brother- None Sister- Shagun Pannu (Younger) |
| Favourite Things | |
| Food(s) | Danish pastries, Chinese Cuisines, Parathas, Chole Puri, Kachori, Papri Chaat |
| Actor(s) | Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Suriya, Ranbir Kapoor, Prabhas, Robert Downey Jr. |
| Actresses | Priyanka Chopra, Priyamani |
| Film(s) | Bollywood: Rockstar Hollywood: The Twilight Series |
| Song | Dhichkyaaon from the film Chashme Baddoor |
| Destination(s) | Europe, Maldives |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | BMW |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (approx.) | ₹60-70 lakh/movie |
| Net Worth (approx.) | ₹6 Crore ($1 million) |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Taapsee Pannu
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