Tabu, Star of Dune: Prophecy, Highlights Growing Female Influence in Film and TV

A prominent Bollywood actress has observed an increasing prevalence of women in leading capacities within international film and television productions. Tabu features in an upcoming installment of Dune: Prophecy, a series drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert’s renowned novels and recent cinematic adaptations. The series, initially named Dune: Sisterhood, saw women, such as director Anna Foerster, occupying significant positions both on-screen and in production, according to Tabu. She conveyed to BBC Asian Network News, “Being surrounded, feeling empowered and a feeling that you’re the ones running the show… it’s really, really nice to see that happening.” Tabu, a widely recognized figure in Hindi cinema, perceives this trend as extending beyond international ventures, noting its presence within her home industry as well. She stated, “There’s been a big change all over the world where women are taking centre stage in many places.” As an illustration, Tabu cited her involvement in the commercially successful Hindi movie Crew, which featured a primary female cast including herself, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon. Tabu, 53, commented, “It’s part of the big change and it was also because the woman that I was working with have accomplished so much in their fields.” She added, “They have a grip, they have control over their craft.” She further elaborated, “They have a sense of how to deal with people because I feel everything is about people management.” “That comes with experience, maturity and putting in a lot of work in so many years of their respective careers. So that felt comforting, safe, and you felt like you were being understood,” she concluded. Critics have characterized Dune: Prophecy as “a bracingly different sci-fi dominated by women at every level,” and Tabu’s participation in the series has been met with enthusiasm by fans in India. Although she noted that her schedule permitted her to undertake the role of Sister Francesca, the prospect of collaborating in a distinct setting with an international ensemble proved attractive. She expressed, “I always love these experiences. Because I don’t live in that world.” She mentioned the involvement of individuals from Serbia, Spain, the UK, Ukraine, and Germany, which contributed to her comprehension of diverse people and cultures. She remarked, “It was very exciting, adding much more fun and drama on screen, of course, but off screen.” “I got to interact with people from so many different parts of the world,” she elaborated. Tabu’s professional journey in the industry encompasses multiple decades, featuring acting credits in Western productions like Life of Pi and A Suitable Boy. Nevertheless, despite her accomplishments, the actress indicated a preference for not dwelling on past achievements. She explained, “Because I feel like I’ve stuttered [if I do].” She added, “[Sometimes I feel like] I’m still new and I’m still learning so much.” “The one thing that I feel extremely grateful and overwhelmed by is I got a tremendous amount of love and respect from people or from my audiences,” she shared. Furthermore, she stated that she continues to be motivated by the diverse roles she undertakes, such as Francesca. She articulated her motivation as, “That I should be able to experience this character in a completely new way.” And also, “That I should be able to present this character in a completely new way [for the audience].” She noted, “Cinema is over 100 years old, they’ve been seeing stuff happening, actors and characters.” Tabu also indicated that she viewed the role as a chance for self-discovery. She explained, “Because acting is such a live experience, you’re lucky to not have the luxury of your work being stuck in one place.” She continued, “You still have to put yourself out there in front of the camera, and explore yourself and express yourself every day when you’re on a film.” “That’s the only tool you have. I look at it in a personal way,” she concluded. Listeners can tune into Ankur Desai’s program on BBC Asian Network, broadcast live from 15:00-18:00, Monday through Thursday, or access past episodes via the provided link. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Further information regarding its external linking policy is available.