Taapsee Pannu Opens Up on Ageism in Films: ‘They Said I Wasn’t Young Enough for Rom-Coms’

Actor Taapsee Pannu has spoken candidly about the age-related biases she says women continue to face in the film industry, revealing that she was once told she was no longer young enough to headline romantic comedies after crossing the age of 30.

In a conversation with Times Entertainment, Taapsee reflected on her career journey and highlighted what she described as a persistent double standard between male and female actors.

“I came into the Hindi film industry when I was in my mid-twenties, okay? Now, for three or four years, you’re struggling to get a decent role. By the time you make a mark, you’ve crossed 30. Then they say you’re not young enough to be featured in a rom-com,” she said.

‘Ageism is a big thing’

Taapsee argued that actresses are often judged by age even when a role does not specifically require a younger performer.

“So even till date, there are so many times when I feel like, ‘But you don’t really need a younger person for this role.’ Yet they still want to go younger. It doesn’t really happen the same way with men. Of course, we can all see that. But yes, ageism is a big thing,” she said.

Her comments add to a broader conversation in the entertainment industry about how women’s careers are frequently evaluated through a different lens than those of their male counterparts.

Experiences in South cinema

The actor also recalled facing a different form of age-related stigma during her time in the South film industry.

According to Taapsee, younger actors became reluctant to work with her after she appeared opposite senior stars, fearing that her screen image had shifted.

“Even in the South, it used to happen with me. The moment I was cast opposite a relatively senior actor, the younger actors didn’t want to work with me. They were like, ‘Oh no, she’s been opposite that actor, so now…’ You dare say that about Shah Rukh Khan. You know, an actress’s life changes after working with Shah Rukh Khan. So that taboo is not here, but that taboo was there for me when I worked in the South,” she said.

The actor suggested that such perceptions create limitations for women that male stars rarely encounter.

Wider debate on gender and age in cinema

Taapsee’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about ageism and gender bias in the entertainment industry. Actor Sonakshi Sinha has also spoken about how age-related scrutiny is disproportionately directed at women, while Konkona Sen Sharma has previously argued that ageism restricts how audiences and the industry view female performers.

Konkona has also highlighted what she described as the “motherhood penalty” faced by women across industries, contrasting it with the professional advantages often associated with fatherhood.

At the same time, several actors have pointed to the growth of streaming platforms and content-driven storytelling as factors creating more opportunities for women across different age groups.

Taapsee on body image pressures

Beyond ageism, Taapsee has also spoken about the pressures actresses face regarding appearance and fitness. In a post shared on Instagram Stories, she reflected on her past attempts to achieve a flatter stomach through intense workouts.

She said excessive exercise can have the opposite effect, leading the body to retain water and increase stress responses rather than improve physical results.

Upcoming projects

On the professional front, Taapsee Pannu is set to appear in *Gandhari*, a Netflix film directed by Devashish Makhija and written by Kanika Dhillon. She was last seen in *Assi*, directed by Anubhav Sinha.