Taapsee Pannu on Gandhari: 'Bani's refusal to give up drew me in'
Synopsis
Taapsee Pannu says it was Bani's unbreakable will — not the action or the spectacle — that sealed her decision to star in Gandhari. Set in the eerie fictional town of Joypurra and built around a mother's hunt for her abducted daughter, the Netflix film arrives on 3 September with a creative team that has made a habit of centering complex Indian women on screen.
Key Takeaways
Taapsee Pannu stars as Bani in Netflix film Gandhari , playing a mother searching for her abducted daughter.
The film's trailer was unveiled on Tuesday, 25 August ; the film streams from 3 September on Netflix .
Gandhari is directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon .
The story is set in the fictitious town of Joypurra , featuring the culturally rooted Behrupiyas .
Supporting cast includes Ishwak Singh , Jatin Sarna , Swastika Mukherjee , Mita Vashisht , and Chhaya Kadam .
Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has revealed that it was her character's fierce, unyielding spirit that compelled her to take on the role in the upcoming Netflix film Gandhari, set to stream from 3 September. The film's trailer, unveiled on Tuesday, introduces Pannu as Bani — a mother on a desperate mission after her daughter is abducted from a railway station.
What Drew Taapsee to the Role
Speaking about the character, Pannu said, 'What stayed with me throughout Gandhari was Bani's refusal to give up, even when everything seemed stacked against her. The role demanded a great deal physically, but it was her resilience, conviction and unwavering spirit that truly drew me in.'
The actress also highlighted the significance of reuniting with writer-producer Kanika Dhillon and Netflix: 'Over the years, we've built a creative partnership rooted in trust and a shared love for telling stories about complex, compelling women.' She added that working with director Devashish Makhija and the ensemble cast made the experience 'all the more rewarding.'
The World of Joypurra
Gandhari is set in the fictitious town of Joypurra, a place where fear and silence coexist alongside the enigmatic Behrupiyas — shape-shifting performers who form an integral part of the town's cultural fabric. The trailer hints at a layered, mysterious world that unravels as Bani takes matters into her own hands to bring her daughter home.
Director Devashish Makhija described the film's appeal: 'What drew me to Gandhari was the cinematic potential to visually build a mysterious, layered world that hasn't been seen before on screen. Yet, beneath all of the suspense, peril and action is a universal story of human choices, consequences, and the extraordinary lengths someone can go to for the one they love most.'
The Creative Team and Cast
Written and produced by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Devashish Makhija, the film blends intense action with themes of courage, sacrifice, and perseverance. The supporting cast includes Ishwak Singh, Jatin Sarna, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht, and Chhaya Kadam.
Release and Platform
Gandhari premieres exclusively on Netflix on 3 September, with Pannu expressing anticipation for global audiences to experience the film. This marks another collaboration between Pannu and Dhillon, a creative duo that has previously explored stories centred on strong, complex women.
Point of View
As seen in Bhonsle — can hold up at the scale a Netflix global premiere demands. If Joypurra lands as a distinct cinematic space, Gandhari could do for Indian streaming what Sacred Games did for location-as-character storytelling.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film Gandhari about?
Gandhari is a Netflix thriller in which Taapsee Pannu plays Bani, a mother whose daughter is abducted from a railway station. Set in the fictitious town of Joypurra, the film follows Bani as she takes matters into her own hands to find her daughter, navigating a world shaped by the mysterious Behrupiyas.
When does Gandhari release on Netflix?
Gandhari premieres on Netflix on 3 September. The trailer was released on 25 August 2025.
Who directed and produced Gandhari?
Gandhari is directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon. It is a Netflix original film.
Who else stars in Gandhari alongside Taapsee Pannu?
The supporting cast includes Ishwak Singh, Jatin Sarna, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht, and Chhaya Kadam.
Why did Taapsee Pannu choose to do Gandhari?
Pannu has said that her character Bani's resilience and refusal to give up — even when the odds were stacked against her — was the primary draw. She also cited her ongoing creative partnership with writer-producer Kanika Dhillon as a key reason for taking on the role.
