Taapsee Pannu Slams Bollywood PR Game: ‘You’re Paying to Push Others Down’

Actress Taapsee Pannu has openly criticized the aggressive publicity culture in Bollywood, calling out what she terms the industry’s “PR game.” In a series of candid interviews, the actor highlighted how modern promotion in Hindi cinema has shifted from simply showcasing one’s work to often dragging others down for attention.

Taapsee on the Changing PR Culture

Speaking to Times Now News and other media outlets, Taapsee reflected on her conscious decision to slow down her public appearances and promotional activities over the past 1.5–2 years. She said,

“I was too busy doing my own things. But last 1.5–2 years se I have slowed down things, and it has also been a conscious effort. I have realised that this PR game has gone to some other level. You are paying either to… push yourself. Which was one version of doing PR. You are also paying to push someone else down.”

The actress questioned the mindset behind such tactics, asking why success should depend on someone else’s failure. She added,

“Since when did your success depend upon someone else’s failure? People have started creating a new facade of their personalities because they need relevance.”

Authenticity Over Publicity

Taapsee also expressed concern about the gap between what celebrities project publicly and their actual work on screen. She emphasized the importance of authenticity:

“I am not okay with just me being there in a hit film, I also need to have a very strong voice even if it is not yours. But you have to create a voice. And that voice that you are trying to create beyond films is not matching with the work you are doing. You are saying beyond your films, but your work is saying something else.”

Prefers Investing in Herself Over Paid PR

Highlighting her personal approach, Taapsee said she prefers spending her money on herself and her family rather than on publicity tactics like planting articles. She candidly said,

“Mereko paise khud pe kharch karne hai, meri travelling pe, meri family pe. Mere paas paise nahi hai apne articles plant karne ke liye. Rs 50,000 dene ke liye ek social media account ko taaki vo mere baare me badi badi baate likhe.”

Career Highlights and Upcoming Projects

Taapsee began her acting career with the Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam (2010) and made her Bollywood debut with Chashme Baddoor (2012). She has since delivered acclaimed performances in films like Baby, Naam Shabana, Manmarziyaan, Mulk, Badla, Thappad, Rashmi Rocket, Haseen Dillruba, and Dobaaraa.

She was most recently seen in Mudassar Aziz’s Khel Khel Mein, starring alongside Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, Aditya Seal, Pragya Jaiswal, and Fardeen Khan. Taapsee’s next project is Gandhari, a revenge drama directed by Devashish Makhija and backed by Kanika Dhillon’s Katha Pictures, set to premiere on Netflix.