Bollywood star Tabu believes women are playing a more prominent role in global film and TV productions, both on and off screen.
The celebrated actress appears in Dune: Prophecy, a series inspired by Frank Herbert’s classic novels.
Originally titled Dune: Sisterhood, the show features strong female leadership, including director Anna Foerster.
“Being surrounded, feeling empowered, and knowing that you’re the ones running the show… it’s really, really nice to see that happening,” Tabu shared with BBC Asian Network News.
This shift, she observes, isn’t limited to international projects but extends to her native Bollywood.
She cites her role in Crew, a commercially successful Hindi film where she starred alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon.
“It’s part of the big change and also because the women I worked with have accomplished so much in their fields,” Tabu explained.
Highlighting the importance of experience and leadership, she added, “They have a grip, they have control over their craft.
They know how to manage people, which comes with experience, maturity, and years of hard work. That felt comforting, safe, and like you were being understood.”
Dune: Prophecy has been praised as “a bracingly different sci-fi dominated by women at every level.”
Fans in India were thrilled to see Tabu in the series, where she plays Sister Francesca.
The opportunity to collaborate with an international cast was one she couldn’t resist.
“There were people from Serbia, Spain, the UK, Ukraine, and Germany involved,” she shared.
“I got to interact with people from so many different parts of the world. It was very exciting, adding fun and drama on and off screen.”
With a career spanning decades and acclaimed roles in Western productions like Life of Pi and A Suitable Boy, Tabu remains forward-looking.
“I don’t like looking back because I feel like I’ve stuttered if I do,” she admitted. “Sometimes I feel like I’m still new and learning so much.”
Her passion for acting continues to be fueled by the depth of the characters she portrays.
“I want to experience characters in completely new ways and present them freshly to the audience,” she said.
“Cinema has been around for over 100 years, with countless stories told, but there’s always something new to discover.”
For Tabu, acting is a personal journey. “It’s a live experience where you can’t be stuck in one place,” she reflected.
“You still have to put yourself out there in front of the camera, exploring and expressing yourself every day. That’s the only tool you have, and I see it as a deeply personal process.”
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