In many ways, Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap are alike mdash individualistic, spirited and driven by creativity. Their friendship then was inevitable. That it has also resulted in some clutter-breaking cinema is an added advantage. After the heartfelt romantic drama, Manmarziyaan (2018), the two have joined forces for
Dobaaraa, a sci-fi thriller.
For Pannu, reuniting with her favourite filmmaker was only a matter of time. 'Even after Manmarziyaan got over, we have consistently been in touch. He has been a friend. In fact, I admire him more as a person than the director he is. So, it was taken for granted that we will work together,' says the actor, adding that it is sheer joy to work with Kashyap, owing to his originality. 'We will collaborate in the future again, [and I am certain] it will be something crazy. We have taken each other's presence in our lives for granted, but when he is on the set as a director, I don't take him for granted.'

The duo wrapped up the shoot of Dobaaraa in March, right before the second wave of the pandemic. The actor believes Kashyap is the best choice to bring to the audience a sci-fi thriller mdash a genre that has remained largely unexplored in Hindi cinema. 'The story jumps different time zones that will connect [in the end]. Dobaaraa will be unique [in that regard]. When it comes to Anurag, people know the story will be presented in a [perfect] way.'

Pannu's knack for fronting compelling stories has been evident in the past few years. Her next, Rashmi Rocket, will see her questioning the gender-testing practice in sports. 'I want to bring something new [to the screen] because it motivates me to keep working. If I keep repeating a certain formula, thinking why fix it if it ain't broke, then it will become like sleepwalking. I am scared of monotony, and directors [like Kashyap and Akarsh Khurana] take more than half the responsibility of making sure I am not being repetitive.'