Bollywood actress Tabu says she feels “empowered” by the growing number of women taking leading roles in film and TV.
She stars in Dune: Prophecy, the latest series inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, where women, including director Anna Foerster, play a key role both on-screen and behind the scenes.
Tabu, who plays Sister Francesca in the show, tells BBC Asian Network News that itโs “really nice” to be part of a project where women are running the show.
She believes this shift is not only happening in international productions but also in Bollywood, where women are taking more central roles.
The actress highlights her recent film Crew, where she worked with fellow actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon.
She says the success of such films is a result of the experience and maturity women bring to the industry. “It felt comforting, safe, and you felt like you were being understood,” she adds.
Tabu also shares her excitement about working in a global environment with an international cast, which included people from Serbia, Spain, the UK, and more.
She says this experience helped her better understand different cultures and brought more fun and drama to the screen.
Despite her decades-long career, Tabu remains focused on learning and growing. “I feel like I’m still new and still learning so much,” she says.
Her passion for discovering new ways to portray characters keeps her motivated. She sees acting as a personal journey of self-expression, with each role offering a new opportunity to explore herself.
Tabu’s work in Dune: Prophecy is part of a broader trend of women taking charge in the film industry, something she is proud to be part of.