Current State of Mind
“I am getting anxiety pangs. Because on one hand, I am having such a wonderful lineup of releases and on the other hand, I am shooting for an extremely wonderful film. So, I'm like... these anxiety pangs are happening in my brain right now,” expresses Taapsee who will be seen in a sports biopic. Soorma is based on the life of former Indian National hockey team captain, Sandeep Singh and his struggle to get on his own feet after getting paralysed for two years following an accidental gunshot that injured him.
Tapsee On ‘Soorma’
“Well it’s a biopic on a legend, Sandeep Singh. I mean, who is he and why he’s a legend, I think lot of us don’t know and that’s why precisely this film was made. Because people really need to know who Sandeep Singh was! He was the ex-captain of the Indian Hockey Team and represented our country at the Olympics. And there was a major accident that happened with him and he came back after that accident. How and all you’ll get know about that in the film. So I think it’s a story which we were stupid enough to let go of when it really happened, couple of years back. But now we are making sure that the country gets a chance to see it through this film and I am hope they are not going to miss it this time,” Taapsee says.
On Playing A Professional Hockey Player
“I play Harpreet. I mean Sandeep's character, Diljit calls me Preet in the film and I play a hockey player. She was a professional hockey player too, representing India. And she was a better hockey player to begin with. When Sandeep started playing she was already quite good at it. And one of the many reasons for him to take up hockey was this girl. And they had plans of a future together and then what happens... the incident, accident that happens and how their plans change after that will be the story. So ya, she is one of those reasons for him to take up hockey in the first place,” says the actor.
Inclination Towards Sports
“I think I am a self-proclaimed sports enthusiast. I love playing lot of different types of sports. I've been playing since my school days. I used to race, I used to play volleyball, little bit of basketball. I played little bit of badminton and now last few years I've been playing squash. So, I do play a few sports and I follow a lot of sports on television. I follow a lot of these Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics of course. So, I do follow all of them.”
Taapsee's Favourite Sport
“So, to play of course, I love playing squash. But when you watch, I think tennis and badminton are better sports to watch,” says the sports enthusiast.
Prepping for 'Soorma'
“So, well I was taken because of I think two things. First was because I am a Sardarni. And then because of the fact that I have played a few sports, so I can look convincing as a sports person. But I didn't know how to play hockey. So I did go through some training which was required out of me. So I was asked to train in hockey, learn hockey from Sandeep himself. So he trained me in hockey for quite a few sessions and that was the only prep that was required out of me,” articulates the young star.
On Working With Bachchan Again
When asked about working with the legendary Amitabh Bachchan for the second time after Pink, Taapsee says, “Yeah, I have just finished working with him for Badla. Like we are half way through the film and I finish the remaining half after I go back from here. So yeah, that is going to come out next year. It's my first collaboration with Sujoy (Ghosh), second with Amitji (Bachchan) and I can't ask for a better combination!”
Rapid Fire With Tapsee
Perks of the Profession?
Taapsee: “Profession, that I get to live so many lives in one life, that is the best part. I can be a sports person, I can be a lawyer, college girl, businesswoman. I can be anything!”
One Thing You Dislike About Acting?
Taapsee: “That I have to sometimes end up acting beyond films.”
And What Does That Mean?
Taapsee: “That means sometimes you know you have to be very socially politically correct, when you really don’t want to be!”
Alternate Career Goals?
Tapsee: “I would have been an MBA professional. I would have been in some marketing field or something. That’s what I wanted to in the first place.”
Celebrity Crush?
Taapsee: “Sam Claflin, Robert Downey Jr., Andy Murray!”
That’s A long list!
Taapsee: “Ya ya ya... I am a normal girl ya. Like if I find a nice, not only good looking but a guy who I feel can make sense I can crush on that guy very easily, and self-made men attract me the most.”
Favourite Co-Star?
Taapsee: “Listen, when you’ve worked with Amitabh Bachchan, I don’t think it’s quite difficult to choose!”
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