Key Highlights:
- Actress Chhaya Kadam has revealed she learnt Bengali for her role in Taapsee Pannu-led 'Gandhari' and described the process as deeply enriching.
- Taapsee Pannu says the role was extremely physically challenging but was anchored by her character Bani's resilience and refusal to give up.
- 'Gandhari' is directed by Devashish Makhija and written and produced by Kanika Dhillon.
- Core cast includes Taapsee Pannu, Chhaya Kadam, Ishwak Singh, Jatin Sarna, Swastika Mukherjee and Mita Vashisht.
- The film premieres on Netflix on September 3, 2026.
Actress Chhaya Kadam — one of contemporary Indian cinema's most quietly formidable performers — has once again reaffirmed her craft-first approach to acting. Ahead of the highly anticipated Netflix release of 'Gandhari', led by Taapsee Pannu, Chhaya has revealed that she took on the challenge of learning Bengali specifically for her role in the film. Coming from an actress whose choices have consistently prioritised depth over noise, the revelation adds another layer of anticipation to the film's rollout.
Chhaya on the Bengali Journey
Chhaya shared her preparation experience with an unmistakable warmth. "For this character, I had the opportunity to learn Bengali, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It added a new dimension to the character and made the journey even more memorable for me," she said. The way she frames the process — as an opportunity rather than an obligation — captures her long-standing philosophy of treating every role as a chance to expand her craft rather than repeat it.
A Filmography Built on Substance
Chhaya Kadam has emerged over the past few years as one of the most trusted supporting talents in Indian cinema. From her powerful work in 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and 'Jhund' to her deeply appreciated turn in 'Laapataa Ladies', she has quietly built a filmography that respects both regional roots and mainstream reach. Her decision to push herself further with 'Gandhari' — by taking on a Bengali-language performance — represents the next logical step in that craft-driven career trajectory.
The Bengali Layer: A Storytelling Choice, Not a Gimmick
The addition of Bengali dialogue in her role suggests that 'Gandhari' is a film rooted in cultural specificity — a story where language is not just a vehicle for meaning but a texture of identity. When actors commit to learning a language rather than relying on dubbing or phonetic memorisation, the emotional authenticity of the performance is often significantly stronger. Chhaya's approach reflects a growing shift in Indian cinema toward more culturally grounded, linguistically layered storytelling.
Taapsee Pannu Reflects on Bani's Resilience
If Chhaya brings the linguistic layer, Taapsee Pannu brings the emotional core. The 'Thappad' and 'Pink' actress is playing the lead role of Bani, and her preparation appears to have been as demanding as her collaborators had suggested. "What stayed with me throughout Gandhari was Bani's refusal to give up, even when everything seemed stacked against her. The role demanded a great deal physically, but it was her resilience, conviction, and unwavering spirit that truly drew me in," Taapsee shared.
Her framing tells us something crucial about what audiences can expect from Bani — a woman whose story is not about winning or losing, but about not giving in.
A Reunion That Runs Deep
Taapsee also spoke about the creative comfort of reuniting with writer-producer Kanika Dhillon and streaming partner Netflix. "Reuniting with Kanika as well as Netflix once again was incredibly special — over the years, we've built a creative partnership rooted in trust and a shared love for telling stories about complex, compelling women. Bringing this film to life with Devashish and such a talented ensemble cast made the experience all the more rewarding. I can't wait for audiences around the world to experience Gandhari on September 3," she added.
The Taapsee–Kanika–Netflix triad has consistently delivered projects that place morally complex women at the centre — the kind of storytelling that has been slowly but steadily reshaping how Indian films portray female protagonists.
The Ensemble: A Genuine Powerhouse
The core cast of 'Gandhari' reads like a masterclass in ensemble casting. Alongside Taapsee and Chhaya, the film features Ishwak Singh, Jatin Sarna, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and other significant performers. It is a spread that combines mainstream visibility with performance credibility, and each name adds weight to the film's overall texture.
Devashish Makhija in the Director's Chair
'Gandhari' is directed by Devashish Makhija, whose previous work has demonstrated a distinctive interest in themes of quiet defiance, systemic injustice and morally layered characters. Bringing him together with Kanika Dhillon's writing and production sensibility promises a film that is likely to prioritise atmosphere, silences and character interiority over spectacle. That combination sits well with the story of a woman refusing to yield.
Written and Produced by Kanika Dhillon
Kanika Dhillon's role as both writer and producer of 'Gandhari' is significant. Dhillon has emerged as one of Indian cinema's most consistent chroniclers of women navigating tough choices, and her involvement typically ensures that female characters are neither reduced to cliché nor sanitised for palatability. In 'Gandhari', that promise takes on an even sharper dimension, given the film's title and its evident thematic ambition.
Netflix Release: A Global Audience Awaits
'Gandhari' is set to premiere on Netflix on September 3, giving the film immediate global reach across the streaming platform's markets. Netflix has been carefully building a slate of female-led Indian stories that travel well beyond South Asian audiences, and 'Gandhari' — with its complex protagonist, layered ensemble and multilingual texture — appears designed to slot naturally into that curation strategy.
Why It Matters: The Rise of Craft-First Casting
Chhaya Kadam's decision to learn Bengali for her role in 'Gandhari' is part of a wider, welcome shift in Indian cinema — where actors are being cast for the depth they can bring to a character rather than just the star pull they can add to a poster. As streaming platforms continue to elevate craft-driven storytelling, the willingness of actors to commit fully to preparation, including language, has become both a professional expectation and a creative distinction.
Industry Impact: A Model for Cross-Cultural Storytelling
'Gandhari' also arrives at a moment when Indian cinema is increasingly weaving multiple regional cultures into single narratives. Films and shows that respect the linguistic and cultural specificity of their settings tend to travel better with audiences — both within India and internationally. Chhaya Kadam's Bengali preparation is a small but meaningful example of what such respect looks like in practice.
Audience Sentiment: Expectations Are Running High
Even ahead of its premiere, 'Gandhari' has been generating strong anticipation, particularly among Taapsee Pannu's core audience and the growing base of viewers who follow Kanika Dhillon's projects. The confirmation of Chhaya Kadam's language commitment has added another emotional layer to the pre-release conversation. On social media, the buzz has begun shifting from "what is the film about" to "how will these performances land" — a healthy indicator for any character-first drama.
Why It Matters: A Reminder That Preparation Still Counts
In an era of quick-turnaround content and rapid production cycles, the story of an actor patiently learning a new language for a role stands out. It is a small reminder that some of the most memorable performances in cinema history have been built on this kind of quiet, uncelebrated preparation. Chhaya Kadam's decision — and her willingness to share it publicly — reinforces the enduring value of that craft-first mindset.
The Bigger Picture
'Gandhari' is shaping up to be more than just a Netflix drop on September 3. It is a coming together of a director committed to complex human portraits, a writer-producer known for morally layered women, a lead actress who has consistently taken on difficult roles, and a supporting powerhouse in Chhaya Kadam who is willing to learn an entire language for the sake of a role. Each of these individual commitments quietly stacks up to something larger — the promise of a genuinely serious piece of contemporary Indian storytelling.
The Bottom Line
Chhaya Kadam's Bengali preparation for 'Gandhari' is a small but revealing detail — one that captures the ethos of a film built on craft, courage and cultural respect. When 'Gandhari' premieres on Netflix on September 3, audiences will be watching not just for the story on screen, but also for the small, deeply personal choices — like an actress choosing to learn a new language — that make the story feel real. In an industry constantly negotiating between spectacle and substance, that kind of quiet dedication may well be the most powerful headline of all.