Taapsee Pannu: Loop Lapeta turns a new age romance
Actress Taapsee Pannu says she took the script of “Loop Lapeta”, the Hindi adaptation of 1998 German film “Run Lola Run”, with the intention of turning down the script, but was ready for the lead role. The upcoming Hindi thriller, helmed by Akash Bhatia, follows an adventurous ride through a difficult situation, where a girlfriend (Pannu) is on a mission to save her boyfriend (Tahir Raj Bhasin). In the film, Pannu’s character gets caught in a time loop and gets multiple chances to save Bhasin’s life.
He said, “I immediately said yes to it (‘Loop Lapeta’) because it was so much fun. Today, it makes you feel like this concept was made more for India than a German classic. So I Kaha Yes. Kaha Diya. This film is based on new age romance, a genre that I am exploring for the first time.”
Taapsee said that her initial hesitation with the film stemmed from the fact that her 2019 film “Game Over” had already employed the time loop concept.
He said, ‘I did a film called ‘Game Over’, which was similar. I didn’t want to repeat a concept in any other film so I went with the intention of saying no. I told producer Atul (Kasbekar) that I haven’t seen the original film, but I know the basic story and concept. But he only asked me to listen (the script). And if it still feels like that and if I don’t want to do it, then no problem.”
However, the film gave him a chance to experience and explore the same world with different nuances, which the actor found thrilling. “It was exciting to know how, in the same situation and the same problem, I could handle and react in different ways at three different times. Like, splitting the stretch of the race into three different loops— Separating Might Happen. As an actor, I enjoyed it and got tired too but I kept myself on my toes. I had to go through the same set of hurdles but in a different mood. A little bit in performing It took time. It was an interesting exercise.”
The actress said she was amazed by the resounding success of “Run Lola Run” directed by filmmaker Tom Tyquar in 1998 and hopes that “Loop Lapeta” is also able to recreate it. He wondered, “How ahead would it have been to release this film in 1998 and what kind of trust would the producers need to make it in 1998.”
Taapsee, who has emerged from the steady success of “Rashmi Rocket” and “Haseen Dilruba” on the OTT platform, says she is in a better position today to choose films.
“Things have changed for good in terms of choices and options I have now to choose from. It happens because my films get approved. Like, if one of my films which is out of the box gets accepted, I get ten choices and the same thing happened with ‘Haseen Dilruba’ and ‘Rashmi Rocket’.”
The acceptance of his films from the audience, the actor said, only validates him and makes him believe in his choice. “When my films are accepted, it validates my choice. And I have made a career out of options. People know me for my liking. Also, I don’t have the guts to choose such traditional subjects and films in future also.”
In her recent post on Instagram, Pannu had said that she runs after some films and thankfully some fell in his lap, post her upcoming release “Loop Lapeta”.
“I don’t run after movies anymore. Maybe I run after filmmakers now, if not movies. Do it yourself, ”said the actor.
Pannu, who launched her production house Outsider Films last year, is also in talks for a project with actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
“There’s something I’ve given to Samantha, where I’m a producer and she’s an actor. But nothing more important has happened.”
‘Loop Lapeta’ starring Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Shreya Dhanwanthary among others will release on Netflix on February 4. It is produced by Sony Pictures Films India, Ellipsis Entertainment and Aayush Maheshwari.