Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has responded to the online comparison between her and veteran star Jaya Bachchan, saying she sees the “Jaya Bachchan lite” label as a compliment rather than criticism.
The comparison has emerged because of Taapsee’s interactions with paparazzi and photographers during public appearances. Some social media users have drawn parallels between her reactions and Jaya Bachchan’s well-known exchanges with photographers.
Speaking to News18, Taapsee said she prefers to focus on the positive side of the comparison and considers it flattering.
“I think that’s a compliment. I only look at the brighter side,” Pannu said, praising Jaya Bachchan as a talented actor and a strong personality.
Taapsee added that she felt people were being generous by comparing her with the veteran actress, whose career spans decades of Hindi cinema.
The actress also addressed the perception that she is frequently rude or harsh toward members of the paparazzi. Taapsee rejected that characterization, insisting that she has never raised her voice at anyone during such interactions.
According to the actress, her issue is not with photographers approaching her but with the way some of them communicate with her.
“To be honest, I really don’t care. I know that I haven’t ever raised my voice at anybody,” she said, explaining that shouting is not part of how she normally behaves.
Taapsee further described how photographers repeatedly call out her name when they are already standing close to her.
She questioned why anyone would need to shout at her from such a short distance, particularly because she is uncomfortable with being yelled at.
The actress said that, apart from her parents during her childhood, she has generally not experienced people shouting at her in that manner.
Taapsee’s comments highlight the difference between her perspective and the way some of her public interactions have been interpreted online. While short clips from celebrity appearances can quickly generate debate on social media, the actress maintains that she does not insult or abuse photographers.
Her comments also show that Taapsee is not particularly bothered by comparisons with Jaya Bachchan. Instead, she views the association positively because of the veteran actress’s reputation as a respected performer and established figure in Indian cinema.
On the professional front, Taapsee recently appeared in the Netflix film Gandhari. The project also features Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Jatin Sarna and Swastika Mukherjee.
Taapsee has built a reputation for taking on a variety of roles across mainstream and content-driven Hindi films. Her notable projects include Thappad and Haseen Dilruba, among several other films.
With her latest comments, the actress has made it clear that she would rather interpret the “Jaya Bachchan lite” comparison as praise than take offence at the label.