Actress Taapsee Pannu has recently made a sudden withdrawal from the promotional campaign of her debut production, Dhak Dhak. Co-produced by Viacom 18, the movie has been highly anticipated and actively promoted on social media by Taapsee herself.
However, just days before its scheduled release on October 13, 2023, the actor-producer distanced herself from all promotional activities and even removed her social media posts related to the movie.
The Promotional Fallout Between Taapsee Pannu and Dhak Dhak
The initial reports suggested that Taapsee’s decision was triggered by a perceived lack of promotional support from the studio. However, it has since come to light that the situation is far more complex.
According to an insider close to the situation, “Taapsee distanced herself from the promotions of the film because she didn’t want to be road rolled by a studio just because they have recovered their investment (by selling digital rights). As a producer, she wanted a say in packaging a film and releasing a film. She’s hurt that a few salaried professionals are dumping her film down the drain because they have zero emotional investment in it. She didn’t want to be conveniently used and then bulldozed when needed.”
On October 9, 2023, merely four days before the movie’s release, the trailer for Dhak Dhak was released. Reports suggest that Viacom 18 failed to proactively promote the movie. Moreover, they prevented Taapsee from executing her promotional ideas and deals.
In response to inquiries by Hindustan Times, Taapsee Pannu stated, “I can’t say anything right now. I’m just waiting for the film, and audiences to see the labour of our hard work and love. I don’t want it to have a mark of any toxicity.”
Directed by Tarun Dudeja, Dhak Dhak is a coming-of-age movie with a star-studded cast, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Sheikh, and Sanjana Sanghi. The story revolves around four women’s journey as they set off on a bike trip.
