Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu in a still from Anubhav Sinha's Mulk.
Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu in a still from Anubhav Sinha's Mulk.

During a Friday evening appearance on Expresso, actor Taapsee Pannu divulged some behind-the-scenes challenges faced during the production of the 2018 film, Mulk, directed by Anubhav Sinha.

Despite boasting a stellar cast with Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu, the film struggled with financial constraints to the point where director Anubhav Sinha had to resort to using an e-rickshaw to commute to the set due to a lack of funds.

Financial hurdles faced by Mulk movie

Taapsee shared that Anubhav Sinha openly discussed the financial hurdles the production faced, revealing that there was a notable difficulty in securing funding for the film.

This skepticism even extended to the casting, with questions being raised about the marketability of a film led by the duo of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and the then-emerging star, Taapsee Pannu.

Despite these financial constraints, Anubhav Sinha was determined to proceed with the movie, ensuring that, at the very least, the cast had proper transportation, even if he did not.

Taapsee impressed by Mulk script

Taapsee, impressed by the script and acknowledging her rising status in the industry, agreed to lower her fee to support the film’s budget.

Taapsee noted her realistic understanding of her influence in the industry at the time, downplaying her ability to sway the film’s budget approvals based on her involvement.

She admired Anubhav Sinha’s courage and dedication to the project despite the uncertain prospects of the film’s release.

Reflecting on the possibility of taking part in a similar project today, Taapsee expressed her willingness to either act in or produce a film akin to Mulk, provided she could collaborate with a director as committed as Anubhav and a team ready to support the film to its conclusion.

Mulk going on to collect around Rs.25 crore

Additionally, she recounted a promotional event in Delhi where, akin to conducting exit polls, they engaged an agency to gather data on public sentiments regarding religious coexistence, aiming to spark a conversation through these statistics.

Mulk, which also starred actors such as Manoj Pahwa, Prateik Babbar, Ashutosh Rana, and Neena Gupta, had to compete with two other releases on its opening day, managing to earn approximately Rs 1 crore, and going on to collect around Rs 25 crore at the box office.