Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu is back in the news after her recent comments on how women are portrayed in Indian cinema. While promoting her film Assi, she said that “Hindi cinema is more about cleavage, South cinema is about the navel,” explaining how different industries tend to focus on specific body parts in song sequences. The statement quickly went viral and sparked discussion online.
Taapsee also spoke about her early days in Telugu and Tamil films, saying she was indirectly asked to wear padded bras during certain song shoots. She mentioned that such requests were often passed on through assistants, which made the situation awkward and uncomfortable. According to her, it reflects the pressure actresses face when it comes to appearance on set.
She had previously shared a similar experience from her 2010 Telugu debut Jhummandi Naadam, where she recalled a coconut being thrown at her midriff to add “sensuality” to a shot. That incident had drawn criticism back then, and her latest remarks have once again divided opinions. While some appreciate her honesty, others feel she is generalizing South cinema.