Taapsee Pannu: Not totally averse to OTT, but like the idea of community viewing

Taapsee Pannu also said, "I want validation from my audience as they are paying for my content on OTT and the films released in theatres."

Taapsee Pannu/Instagram

After two long years, Taapsee Pannu will be seen on the big screen with Shabaash Mithu. The actor's last theatrical release was Thappad for which she won several accolades. In between, Pannu featured in films which were released directly on OTT platforms, namely Haseen Dillruba (Netflix), Annabelle Sethupathi (Disney+ Hotstar), Rashmi Rocket (ZEE5), and Looop Lapeta (Netflix). The actor also had a Telugu film, Mishan Impossible, which was released in theatres recently. Shabash Mithu is her first Hindi big-screen release since the pandemic.

During a media group interaction, Pannu was asked if there's any pressure now that she's having a theatrical release after a long time. To which the actor stated, "Hopefully, my trajectory will only change slightly. It has to be because then you have to grow and your risk-taking capacity increases. Yes, it's coming two years after Thappad and that is what is making me nervous and making me feel the pressure. But rightfully so, the day it stops making me feel pressured or a theatrical release, stops making me feel nervous, I think it's time to change my job. It isn't different than that, right?"

On being quizzed if she is open to having both OTT and theatrical release in the future, the actor went on to say, "I know I want people to spend time and money on my film, believing that it's going to be worth their time and money. I want validation from my audience because they are the ones who are paying for my content, the ones that are put on OTT and the films that are released in theatres. I was very sceptical about OTT until Haseen Dillruba was released, and then it showed me that I didn't feel for a second that it was not like a theatrical release, the kind of buzz that it created."

Pannu added, "So I will not say that I'm averse, against or not comfortable with OTT, but I kind of like the idea of community viewing because I like watching films that way. I like watching films with good sound systems with 100-200 people. That kind of gives me a good feeling, so I would want my audience to do that for me."

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