'It was the toughest part': Anubhav Sinha reveals writing for Taapsee Pannu’s ‘Assi’ involved thinking like a woman

Director Anubhav Sinha has opened up about the creative challenges behind his upcoming social drama ‘Assi’, which stars Taapsee Pannu as a lawyer fighting for a sexual assault survivor portrayed by Kani Kusruti. The film’s trailer wastes no time setting a grim tone, citing the alarming statistic that around 80 rape cases are reported daily in India. Reflecting on this, Sinha remarked, “That’s one every 20 minutes. By the time you finish this interview, one more would have happened.”

Examining patriarchy and society’s silence with 'Assi'

With ‘Assi’, the filmmaker intends to confront the deep-rooted structures that enable sexual violence. He argues that the issue is not just individual crime but a systemic failure passed down through generations. “Mothers tell their daughters at 13 that this [sexual violence] may happen, and this is how you deal with it. But men don’t tell their sons about gender equality. We don’t tell them that you might be attracted to another person’s body, but you can’t snatch it,” he said, pointing to the imbalance in how society prepares young people.

Writing the story of 'Assi' like a woman

Sinha collaborated with writer Gaurav Solanki on the screenplay, acknowledging that both approached the subject from an inherent limitation. As male creators, they had to consciously attempt to view situations through a woman’s lens. “Every time Gaurav and I went to write a scene, we were trying to think like a woman. That was the toughest part for me. I was watching a lot of films about women to understand women, to feel like one,” he shared.

Why was Taapsee Pannu the obvious choice?

Reuniting with Taapsee after earlier collaborations was a carefully considered decision rather than a coincidence. The director felt she would approach the role with sincerity rather than mere ambition. “I meet a lot of actors who want to be in my movies because they think they should want to be in a movie like that. That doesn’t work for me. You will see Taapsee’s honesty in her eyes. She walks the talk.”

The duo has previously delivered impactful films together, including ‘Mulk’ and the widely discussed ‘Thappad’, both of which tackled sensitive social themes.

Anubhav Sinha on continuing a legacy of issue-driven cinema

With ‘Assi’, Sinha appears set to extend his body of work that interrogates uncomfortable realities while centering strong female characters. The film aims not only to tell a survivor’s story but also to question the cultural mindset that allows such violence to persist, positioning it as one of the director’s most hard-hitting projects yet.

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