Taapsee Pannu has never been afraid to speak directly about the film industry, and the recent thoughts about the depiction of women in films have sparked a discussion once again. Based on her experience in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil cinema, the actor identified what she considers to be a noticeable difference in female bodies framing in different industries.

Taapsee says, the Hindi films have often a tendency to emphasise cleavage in the glamourous song sequence or stylised shot whereas the south Indian films are more focused on the belly button. Her remark was not directed towards any particular industry but it was more of a general observation she has seen in her profession.

She even remembered some instances in her early years in the South film industry when some instructions given her regarding costume or camera were uncomfortable to her. Taapsee has confessed that there were occasions when actresses had been requested to glam up to fit certain shots which she found uncomfortable and concentrated too much on the body instead of the acting. Such instructions were delivered in such a way that they were frequently indirect, which contributed to the discomfort.

Taapsee has established a reputation over the years to select powerful and content-based roles in Hindi films. Her experience in commercial South movies and performance-based Bollywood ventures has also provided her with a certain viewpoint of how narration and visualization takes shape among the industries.

Offering a personal anecdote, Taapsee is not only contributing to the ongoing discussion on a personal level but opening up a bigger dialogue about the male gaze, the tradition of the movies and the necessity to get out of the business of decreasing actresses to body parts. Her remarks can be likened to a wakeup call that even though glamour has always been synonymous to the cinema, the industry keeps on changing, and so does the voice in the industry.