Rashmi Rocket starring Taapsee Pannu in the lead role aims to highlight the ordeal female athletes have to go through with gender testing, as their bodies are tagged as ‘mardaana’ or not ‘conventionally feminine’. Taapsee revealed that she had no idea about the subject of the film and had to Google gender testing in sports to understand the concept.

I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT GENDER-TESTING. I HAD TO GOOGLE IT: TAAPSEE PANNU

Taapsee Pannu’s hard-hitting trailer Rashmi Rocket brought back lingering memory of Dutee Chand. The film aims to highlight how women athletes are questioned about having ‘mard ki body’ and are often subjected to archaic gender tests.

Talking about this issue, Taapsee said, “I met Nanda Periyasamy (Rashmi Rocket writer), who had the story with him for this film. He had made a very beautiful AV of the story for my reference. When I saw it, I was honestly shocked because I like watching sports and follow it a lot too, but still, I had no idea about the gender testing issue that the film highlights. I had to Google it. I was completely shocked after I got to know the details about this particular issue.”

This is reminiscent of Dutee Chand’s case. She won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games and became India’s National record-holder in 100 m, but was banned from Commonwealth and Asian Games teams in 2014 due to high testosterone levels in her body.

I GOT TO KNOW ABOUT GENDER TESTING ISSUE THROUGH RASHMI ROCKET: PRIYANSHU PAINYULI

Priyanshu Painyuli who plays Taapsee Pannu’s husband in Rashmi Rocket, also wasn’t aware of gender testing. He said, “I got to know about the gender testing issue through Rashmi Rocket. While shooting, I checked with our director Akarsh, that are we taking creative liberty for the movie or is this truly happening and I was shocked to know that this is truly happening. We are hoping that through our movie, this issue is highlighted to a larger section of the society.”

Directed by Akarsh Khurana, Taapsee Pannu plays a fast runner in Rashmi Rocket. After winning many accolades for India, she is subjected to gender testing. It becomes a battle for her and her loved ones to restore her identity and reputation.