Swara Bhasker On How Tanu Weds Manu Broke The Stereotype Of 'Heroine's Friend'

Marking 10 years of Tanu Weds Manu, which saw them starring opposite each other for the first time, actors Swara Bhasker and Kangana Ranaut opened up on memories of their decade-old characters Payal and Tanuja, respectively. The Aanand L Rai-directed rom-com, which released in 2011, was the first of a two-part series.

Bhasker's Payal had earned praise upon the film's release for her genuine candour and easy outspokenness. Reflecting on how Tanu Weds Manu gave her an "identity," Bhasker tells Times of India, "Payal was written very well and was a departure from typical 'heroine-ki-saheli' (heroine's friends) roles."

There was no mincing of words; she was today's girl: Bhasker on 10 years of Tanu Weds Manu

"She had her own life and a distinct voice in the film. The character was written as a friend who was as real as she could get," she adds.

At 10 Years Of Tanu Weds Manu, Ranaut Marks Her Entry Into Comedy

Ranaut as Tanu in the lead had cemented her place in Bollywood with this film, even as the skyrocketing definer for her was yet to come with Queen three years later.

Her character opposite R Madhavan's Manu was a marked departure from the conventional female lead, and was famously pegged as bold: a woman who drank, smoked, danced and was a fiery ball of energy compared to a coolly composed, emotional male lead.

Recalling her role as Tanu on 10 years of Tanu Weds Manu, Ranaut took to Twitter on Thursday writing, "this film changed the trajectory of my career... became the only actress after legendary SriDevi ji to do comedy."

I was stuck in edgy/neurotic roles, this film changed the trajectory of my career, was my entry in to mainstream that too with comedy, with Queen and Datto I strengthened my comic timing and became the only actress after legendary SriDevi ji to do comedy #10yearsoftanuwedsmanu https://t.co/WMXgPdi781

— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 25, 2021

Bhasker, who will be next seen in LGBTQ+ romance Sheer Qorma and Ranaut, whose Thalaivi teaser dropped Wednesday, have of late issued disagreements with each other on social media over differences in ideology.

In the aftermath of Sushant Singh Rajput's death last year, Ranaut had lashed out at Bhasker and Taapsee Pannu in a news debate, calling them "B-grade actresses."

Most recently, after Ranaut hit back at a Congress MLA for calling her a "naachne gaane wali," in the process mentioning unlike other actors she "refused to do item numbers," Bhasker replied to her saying, "Loved your dancing in this ‘item number’ in the film Rajjo.. you are a great performer and great dancer Kangana."