In a hard-hitting interview given yesterday (Monday, Feb 16) while promoting her upcoming film 'Assi', the actress warned that "offbeat, women-led films" are on the verge of becoming an "extinct species" because audiences are simply not showing up to theaters to support them.
Here is the breakdown of her passionate plea and why she believes the genre is dying.
The Statement: "We Are becoming Extinct" 🦖
The Quote: Speaking to PTI, Taapsee didn't mince words: "We are on the verge of becoming an extinct species... There is a certain template that our so-called commercial cinema abides by, and we don't conventionally fall in that template."
The Fear: She expressed genuine worry that if audiences continue to ignore "rooted" and realistic stories in favor of big-budget spectacles, producers will stop funding these films altogether.
The "Dal Chawal vs. Mughlai" Analogy 🍛
Taapsee used a brilliant food metaphor to explain the problem:
Mughlai (Blockbusters): She compared massive commercial films (like Animal or Pathaan) to rich "Mughlai" food—great for special occasions but heavy.
Dal Chawal (Realistic Films): She compared her films (like Thappad or Assi) to "Dal Chawal"—essential, comforting, and necessary for a balanced diet.
The Problem: She argued that you cannot survive on "Mughlai" every day; the industry needs "Dal Chawal" to stay healthy, but right now, the audience is letting the "Dal Chawal" spoil.
The OTT Trap: "Waiting for Digital is Suicidal" 📺
She also busted the biggest myth about small films: that they are "safe" because of OTT platforms.
The Reality: Taapsee revealed that streaming giants (like Netflix and Amazon) have changed their strategy. They now prioritize films that perform well in theaters.
The Warning: She called the audience's habit of "waiting for OTT" "suicidal" for the industry. If a film flops in theaters, OTT platforms offer lower prices or refuse to buy them, eventually killing the funding for future projects.
The Immediate Context: 'Assi' 🎬
Her comments come ahead of the release of 'Assi' (releasing this Friday, Feb 20), which reunites her with director Anubhav Sinha (Mulk, Thappad).
The Film: It is a gritty courtroom drama where she plays a lawyer defending a sexual violence survivor.
The Plea: Taapsee is urging fans to prove that there is still a market for "sensible cinema" by buying a ticket this weekend instead of waiting for it to drop on a screen at home.
SantaBanta Verdict:
Taapsee has a point. We often complain on social media that "Bollywood only makes trash," but when a Thappad or Assi comes out, the theaters are empty. If we want better stories, we have to put our money where our tweets are.
