"I don't feel I am a star yet. I will call myself a star when my films, no matter what, open with a certain number at the box office", humbly said Taapsee Pannu as she arrived to promote her upcoming film Mission Mangal which has an ensemble star cast. Beautifully dressed in a yellow indo-western outfit, Taapsee opened up about working in a star-studded film and having a male superstar front lining it. The film stars five leading ladies Vidya Balan, Taapsee, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menon and Kirti Kulhari and the man behind the mission Akshay Kumar. 

With the story predominantly focussing on the women scientists, the film is undeniably a step in the right direction for Bollywood. However, some people pointed out that the makers played it safe by putting the spotlight on Akshay in the posters, despite having a talented all-women cast. "We can't escape that it is a commercial requirement. This is a big-budget film. We need to face the reality that Akshay Kumar's face on the poster will be able to get huge footfalls. Five of us women put together won't be able to add up to the opening figure that Akshay alone can get. Truth is, if we women weren't there, the film would still open big because of him. Our absence would have reduced the star quotient but not made as big a difference," said Taapsee.

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"People on Twitter, who are enraged about this, should ask themselves if they watch women-centric films on the first weekend. Why do they wait for reviews before making their decision?" But Taapsee was all hearts for Mr. Khiladi. "Akshay takes all of us along [for the promotions]. It shows that he is standing up for us. At a promotional show in Delhi, he was made to sit separately. He got up and made sure he sat with us. We are on our way to becoming equal."

Mission Mangal that traces the journey of the team led by Akshay achieving a seemingly impossible task of reaching Mars in India’s maiden attempt, making it the only country in the world to set this record is bankrolled by R Balki and Akshay. It is directed by Jagan Shakti who marks his debut with it. Presented by Fox Star Studios, Produced by Cape of Good Films, Hope Productions and Fox Star Studios, Mission Mangal releases on August 15, 2019.

(Source: PeepingMoon)