Taapsee Pannu reveals people couldn’t understand her casting in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki: “No one could wrap their head around it”

The actress reflected on building her career without a godfather or industry connections and said speculation about her personality stems from people not knowing her personally.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 28, 2026 - 1:36 PM IST

Taapsee Pannu has reflected on building her career in Hindi cinema without the backing of an established industry family, a godfather or a studio. The actress, who has moved between women-led dramas, thrillers and mainstream entertainers, recently spoke about why her professional journey has often been difficult for people to explain, citing her casting in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki as an example.

Taapsee Pannu reveals people couldn’t understand her casting in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki: “No one could wrap their head around it”

When asked which aspect of her journey makes her the proudest, Taapsee pointed to the fact that her career cannot be attributed to the conventional routes often associated with success in the film industry. She said, "How easy is it to say she’s successful because she has a godfather, or because she’s from that family, or because she’s signed by a studio? None of this applied to me. I realised this when I was cast in Dunki. For the longest time, no one could wrap their head around it. How is she in this movie? I wasn’t part of Shah Rukh sir’s social circle, nor had Rajkumar Hirani ever worked with me before. He had called me to his office once just to ask how I’d approached a certain role. Much later, he called to ask if I’d be okay hearing the script of Dunki. No one could digest that this had happened. They cannot put me in a box. So, I’ve started hearing all sorts of stories about me. She’s difficult, no one wants to work with her, she has this problem, that problem. Because no one knows me, it’s easy to make up stories."

Taapsee’s account highlights how her casting in Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, became a point of discussion because she had not previously worked with the filmmaker and did not belong to the superstar’s social circle. According to the actress, Hirani had first invited her to his office to discuss her approach to a particular role before later asking if she would be interested in hearing the script of Dunki.

The actress also addressed the speculation surrounding her personality, suggesting that the absence of personal familiarity can make it easier for people to form their own narratives about her. She believes that her refusal to fit into a predictable category has contributed to the stories circulating about her.

Over the years, Taapsee has built a filmography spanning commercial entertainers, thrillers and character-driven dramas. Her choices have frequently taken her across genres, allowing her to explore different roles rather than follow a single, easily defined screen identity.

Her latest remarks underline her pride in a career that, as she sees it, has developed without the conventional advantages often associated with access and industry connections.

Also Read: Taapsee Pannu on wanting producers to back films on her name: “It’s been relentless work”