India, Feb. 17 -- Taapsee Pannu is one of the rare female stars in Bollywood to have led films that are in the 100 crore club. The list of female-led Indian films to cross Rs.100 crore globally is short, and the stars who have led them are even fewer. That makes Tapsee an actor of a rare breed. However, the actor admits that the landscape of theatrical releases has changed since the pandemic. Ahead of the release of her next film, Assi, Taapsee chats with Hindustan for a rare conversation on films, the business, the craft, and more.

Assi is the story of a rape survivor (played by Kani Kusruti) and her lawyer (Tapsee). The film aims to fight the notion that small films that deal with issues are not meant for the theatres. Taapsee argues, ...