Indian Actress Tabu is known to be someone who does not follow the expected rules of the industry blindly. Over the years, the actress has created a particular reputation of being able to choose her own roles, on her own terms, staying away from unnecessary noise. In a recent conversation with Harper’s Bazaar India, Tabu opened up about ageing, the pressure women face in cinema, and why she never learnt how to give safe industry answers.
People judge women in the industry based on their age
The actress reflected on the way women in films are constantly judged, highlighting the fact that society often places far more importance on a woman’s age than the woman herself does. “People are more worried about your age than you are yourself. They want to show you the mirror, as though you don’t have one at home,” Tabu said.
Tabu further explained that ageing is not some sudden transformation, the way people make it out to be. Instead, it is something people experience gradually every single day and is a natural part of life. “The person answering that question hasn’t aged overnight. We experience it every single day. It’s not like one day someone wakes up at 20, and the next day they turn 45,” the actress said.
Moreover, the actress also revealed that she was often advised not to be brutally honest when it comes to rejecting films. According to Tabu, people in the industry expected actors to avoid giving direct opinions on scripts and instead use “date issues” as an excuse. “You should not give a real reason for not doing a film,” she said while recalling the advice she received. “Give the excuse of dates and walk away. I didn’t understand that. If I don’t like the script, I don’t like it. And I said so,” the actress said, quite boldly.
Tabu’s upcoming projects
Tabu was last seen in Bhooth Bangla alongside Akshay Kumar. Directed by Priyadarshan, the horror-comedy released in theatres on April 17, 2026.
According to sources, Tabu has also reunited with Nagarjuna for his 100th film, tentatively titled King100. Directed by Ra Karthik and produced by Annapurna Studios, with filming confirmed to have started in April 2026.