The Actors' Roundtable Teaser | @rajmas, Tovino Thomas, Taapsee Pannu, Sanya Malhotra & more!
An Unfiltered Look at the Craft: Inside The Actors’ Roundtable 2021 Hosted by Rajeev Masand
The annual Actors’ Roundtable, hosted by veteran film critic Rajeev Masand, has become one of the most anticipated conversations in the Indian entertainment calendar, offering an unvarnished glimpse into the minds of the industry’s finest talent. The 2021 edition, in partnership with Netflix India, was a particularly significant one, bringing together a diverse and formidable cohort of actors whose acclaimed performances dominated the streaming landscape that year.
The teaser for the event, which brought together regional cinema’s rising star, Bollywood’s powerful female leads, and a global breakout, promised an intimate and high-calibre discussion. The full panel featured Konkona Sen Sharma, Sanya Malhotra, Taapsee Pannu, Tovino Thomas, Adarsh Gourav, and Raveena Tandon. This assembly of talent—each celebrated for a standout performance on Netflix—provided a unique confluence of perspectives, navigating the new world of cinema shaped by the rise of streaming platforms.
The Powerhouse Panel and Their Acclaimed Roles
The true magic of the roundtable lies in its recognition of merit over traditional stardom, and the 2021 lineup exemplified this perfectly, with each actor representing an impactful performance that resonated deeply with critics and audiences alike:
- Taapsee Pannu: For her fierce and complex portrayal of Rani in the murder mystery Haseen Dillruba.
- Tovino Thomas: The Malayalam cinema heartthrob, for bringing India’s beloved regional superhero to life in the critically acclaimed film Minnal Murali.
- Sanya Malhotra: Honoured for her nuanced performances in both Pagglait and Meenakshi Sundareshwar.
- Raveena Tandon: For her compelling performance as a fierce yet flawed police officer in the neo-noir series Aranyak.
- Konkona Sen Sharma: Recognised for her stellar role as Bharti Mandal in the short film Geeli Pucchi from the anthology Ajeeb Daastaans.
- Adarsh Gourav: The breakout star who earned international acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role as Balram Halwai in The White Tiger.
Deep Dives into the Actor’s Process
The discussion, steered by Rajeev Masand’s insightful questioning, quickly moved beyond surface-level chatter to explore the meticulous and often vulnerable process of acting.
The Secret of Scent and Characterisation
One of the most fascinating revelations was the use of scent as a unique tool for character immersion. Tovino Thomas shared that he associates a specific perfume with a memory, and for his superhero role in Minnal Murali, he consciously chose a single fragrance (coincidentally, one whose bottle resembled a lightning bolt) to use throughout the shoot. This technique, he explained, helped him fully embody the character’s traits.
Taapsee Pannu and Sanya Malhotra echoed this sentiment, admitting they also employ the “scent secret.” Taapsee noted that the sense of smell is a powerful trigger that “takes you back in the zone of that character,” a trick especially helpful when juggling multiple projects. Sanya Malhotra even recounted her happy memory of getting ready as Minakshi and playfully admitting to “stealing” the saris from the set, highlighting the deep personal connection formed with her characters.
The Fear of the ‘Bad Director’
In a candid moment, the panel addressed their greatest professional fear. Surprisingly, for many, it wasn’t failure or box-office pressure, but the apprehension of working with a misaligned director. “For me would be a bad director,” confessed one actor, with another adding a collective “plus one to that.” This segment offered a stark reminder that the director is the “boss” who sees the “broader picture,” and if their vision falters, an actor’s deeply involved performance can ultimately go “downhill.” The consensus underscored the essential nature of trust and shared vision in a collaborative art form like cinema.
Fighting for Unconventional Roles
Taapsee Pannu offered an insightful look into the challenges faced by female actors when choosing non-conformist roles, specifically for Haseen Dillruba. She openly admitted that she had to “shamelessly” fight for the role because others had rejected the character of Rani, deeming her “too grey,” “not likable,” and a woman who was “not the hero.” Her determination to play an unlikeable, complex female character reflected the changing landscape of Hindi cinema, where actors are now prioritising character depth over traditional heroic archetypes.
Raveena Tandon also shed light on her strenuous experience filming Aranyak in the snow-covered mountains, facing physically demanding conditions but finding a “very, very happy memory” in the crew’s collective struggle and shared warmth over hot tea.
The Streaming Age: A New Measure of Success
A central theme of the roundtable was the seismic shift brought about by the Over-The-Top (OTT) or streaming platforms. The panel universally agreed that streaming has not only made cinema more accessible but has also fundamentally changed the yardstick for measuring success.
Tovino Thomas’s experience as an actor from the Malayalam film industry, whose film Minnal Murali became a global phenomenon on Netflix, perfectly illustrated this point. He recounted how fulfilling it was to play a superhero and see his daughter believe he had superpowers after watching the movie. This global reach provides an unprecedented level of exposure and validation, allowing regional cinema and unconventional narratives to bypass traditional theatrical barriers.
The 2021 Actors’ Roundtable reaffirmed its status as a cornerstone of film discourse, providing a platform where actors can shed their on-screen personas and offer genuine, thoughtful insights into their craft, their fears, and the evolving future of storytelling.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q: Who were the main participants in The Actors’ Roundtable 2021 with Rajeev Masand?
A: The main participants in The Actors’ Roundtable 2021, hosted by Rajeev Masand and streamed on Netflix India, were Taapsee Pannu, Tovino Thomas, Sanya Malhotra, Raveena Tandon, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Adarsh Gourav.
Q: Which specific film performances were the actors recognised for at this roundtable?
A: The actors were recognised for their 2021 Netflix performances, including Taapsee Pannu (Haseen Dillruba), Tovino Thomas (Minnal Murali), Sanya Malhotra (Pagglait and Meenakshi Sundareshwar), Raveena Tandon (Aranyak), Konkona Sen Sharma (Geeli Pucchi), and Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger).
Q: What unconventional acting technique was discussed by Tovino Thomas and Sanya Malhotra?
A: Tovino Thomas, Sanya Malhotra, and Taapsee Pannu discussed the use of scent or perfume as an unconventional acting technique. They shared that using a single, specific fragrance for the duration of a film helps the sense of smell transport them back into the character’s emotional and psychological “zone,” which is especially useful when shooting multiple projects.
Q: What did the actors cite as their biggest fear in their profession?
A: Several actors on the panel, including Taapsee Pannu and an unnamed colleague, cited the fear of having a “bad director” as one of their biggest professional anxieties. They explained that a poor directorial vision can undermine an actor’s committed performance, despite their best efforts.
Q: How did the actors feel the rise of streaming platforms had impacted the film industry?
A: The actors generally agreed that the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix had made cinema more accessible, especially for non-mainstream and regional films, and had created a new metric for measuring success and gaining global recognition beyond traditional box office collections.
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