'Pink' actress Taapsee Pannu finally finds a home in Mumbai

'Pink' actress Taapsee Pannu finally finds a home in Mumbai

Taapsee Pannu

Ek ghar ke liye mujhe dar dar bhatakna pada," says Taapsee Pannu when we compliment her on the décor of her Andheri home. She echoes the thoughts of every ‘single' media professional who has to find a flat on rent in the city. She has been living in the same house for the last two years since she first landed here. It turns out her woes weren't any different from that of less starry girls.

Prodded about her harrowing house-hunting experience, she jokes about the questions potential landlords posed to her, one of which was, ‘How will you pay the rent if you don't get movies?' "Even my parents don't ask me that. I wanted to scream my head off and tell them even if I don't work everyday for a whole year, I have made enough money to afford the rent. For actors, it is impossible to get a rented flat here. When you are in front of the camera, you can't even hide your identity. Initially, when I got this house, I had to approach the landlord via friends and family. The owner was fine, but the society raised issues. My mother had to move in with me for the first six months and then visit me frequently. Her presence is the stamp of legitimacy and also shows me in a ‘homely' light," she says.

Basic expectations
On her expectations from her first house, Taapsee says, "They were basic. I have lived in Delhi all my life. All I wanted was a balcony and some open space. I went all over the city for almost a month to get this house. From running to the police station to getting the formal paperwork done, it is a tiresome process. I don't have the energy to do it all over again."

So, have her woes finally ended? "Almost. Maybe buying a house could've been equally draining. Thankfully, I knew the person from whom I bought the house; he is a film production designer. To convince someone that actors don't always do weird or illegal stuff in your house is tough. My new house is in Oshiwara and I will get possession this year-end," she adds.

Disturbing mindset
She points out that the hypocritical mindset is disturbing. "People have preconceived notions about single women who are actresses. I don't drink or smoke. I go to sleep by 11 pm. These are my choices. But, no one should have to apologise for his or her way of life," she says. She adds a couple next door always fight loudly, but no one takes objection to them because they are ‘married'. "Parineeti Chopra, Arijit Singh and Kausar Munir used to stay in the same building. People are okay with paying '500 bucks on our films or on Arijit's shows, but renting out their homes to us is risky? This dual standard is depressing," she says.