New Delhi: At the 2024 “We Women Want” event organised by ITV Network, Bollywood actress and Padma Shri awardee Raveena Tandon participated in an open discussion, sharing her journey in the film industry. She emphasised that all women in India have an inherent strength to achieve their goals—they just need to recognise and harness it. Tandon spoke about the dual responsibility of artists to both their personal families and the people they work with daily, such as drivers, hairstylists, and beauticians.
She recounted an incident where she defended her driver from a mob, criticising today›s tendency for people to record events rather than help. Tandon stressed the importance of giving back to society, particularly supporting causes like women’s empowerment, child labour, and underprivileged children.
Taapsee Pannu said that how meeting women, who were inspired by her films to make bold life decisions gives her courage and validates her work. She reflected on the sense of responsibility she feels, knowing many women look up to her.
Regarding her title as the “alternative box-office queen,” Pannu explained that anything unconventional is labelled as alternative. She acknowledged that traditional roles didn’t suit her, and her success has come from taking on more challenging, non-conventional parts. Even filmmakers hesitate to offer her simple roles, knowing she wouldn’t accept them.