‘Focus on body over performance; some directors ask actresses to wear padded bras’; actress opens up about uncomfortable experiences on South Indian film sets

Actor Taapsee Pannu has opened up about certain practices in the South Indian film industry that often make actresses uncomfortable. She said that in several films, more emphasis is placed on capturing actresses’ physical appearance on camera rather than their acting performances.

Taapsee said that while working in Tamil and Telugu films, actresses are sometimes faced with unusual and uncomfortable demands during shoots. According to her, some directors ask actresses to wear padded bras, especially during song sequences and glamour-focused scenes.

"These requests are made to enhance the physical appearance of actresses and market them accordingly. Such demands are often justified in the name of audience expectations,” she said.

She added that such instructions are rarely conveyed directly by directors. Instead, assistant directors or members of the styling team usually communicate these demands. By the time the actress is informed, many others on the team are already aware of the changes, which can add to the discomfort.

Taapsee also said that being asked to make such adjustments just before a shot, and then having people on set notice and comment on the changes in appearance, has often left her feeling embarrassed during shoots.