This week, Dilruba Haseena actor Taapsee Pannu surprised everyone by turning producer. Yes, Taapsee, who in her 10-year career has carved her own niche in Indian cinema, has launched her own production house Outsiders Films.
Why the sudden decision?
Taapsee replies, “It was not a sudden decision at all. I had been advised to turn producer for some time now. But I wasn’t sure. I knew being an actor I wouldn’t have the mindspace to divert into being a full-time producer and wanted to make sure that I was psychologically prepared to have full control over the films I was producing.”
Hence Taapsee was on the lookout for a partner to produce films with. “I wanted a partner who had the expertise to handle the financial-practical side of production while I took care of the creative side. That’s when I got my friend Pranjal Khandhdiya on board. I worked with him as an actor when he was part of Sony Pictures.I could see his level of efficiency and professionalism.”
It was Pranjal who suggested the partnership. “Yes, he was the one who suggested this partnership.I think I’d have been insane to refuse it. With him by my side I know I could totally rely on him to handle the production while I could focus on my acting and the creative aspects of production.”
The partnership and production plans to took a year to concretize. “That’s the amount of time it took us to lock in our first production and a couple of other projects in the future.”
Taapsee is very clear on her priorities as a producer. “I don’t think I needed to turn producer to create opportunities for myself as an actor. I don’t think I lacked opportunities before I turned producer. But yes , one of my targets as a producer is to create opportunities for other actors like me who who come in from the outside and take years to find opportunities. It took me a decade to establish myself. This(the production house) would help some actors to get a platform, so they can make headway quicker than me. The idea is to tell good stories and provide opportunities to other actors.”
Further explaining her motivations as a producer Taapsee says, “A lot of actors turn co-producers to take a cut in the boxoffice profits. I am not doing that . I am only producing the films where I will have full control, and where me and Pranjal would be able to make the kind of films we believe in.”
Taapsee’s first production is a film called Blurrr. “But I am not allowed to divulge any information on it right now.”
