Taapsee Pannu has officially returned to the big screen with the trailer launch of Assi, marking her comeback to lead roles after a noticeable gap. Sharing the trailer on social media, the actor chose a haunting Hindi poem by Uday Prakash on silence and death, setting the tone for a film that promises to be urgent, unsettling, and deeply political. Assi is slated for a theatrical release on February 20, 2026, and early reactions suggest it could be one of the most impactful films of the year.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha and produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under the T-Series banner, Assi reunites Pannu with Sinha for the third time after the critically acclaimed Mulk and Thappad. Known for tackling uncomfortable social truths, the filmmaker once again dives into systemic injustice, power structures, and moral complicity, with Taapsee at the center of the storm.
In Assi, Taapsee Pannu plays Raavi, a relentless lawyer fighting for justice for a woman who survives a brutal gang rape and is left abandoned on railway tracks. The survivor is portrayed by Kani Kusruti, whose quiet, shattered presence forms the emotional core of the narrative. The case becomes more than a legal battle—it turns into a confrontation with institutions designed to protect, but often structured to silence.
The nearly three-minute trailer is intense and unflinching, moving between investigation rooms, protest sites, and emotionally charged courtroom exchanges. One of the most chilling elements is the film’s tagline: “Eighty. Per Day. Every Day.”, a stark reminder of the frequency of rape cases in India. Rather than sensationalism, the trailer opts for restraint—letting silences, stares, and suppressed rage speak louder than monologues.
The film boasts a formidable ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Supriya Pathak, Seema Pahwa, and Rajendra Sethi, lending gravitas and moral complexity to the narrative. Each character appears to represent a different shade of power, conscience, apathy, or resistance within the system.
Assi also holds significance as Taapsee Pannu’s first major release after relocating to Copenhagen, making the project feel personal as well as political. Fans have welcomed her return, praising her choice of socially relevant cinema and her continued collaboration with filmmakers who challenge mainstream comfort zones.
With its courtroom setting, uncompromising themes, and proven creative team, Assi positions itself as more than just a film—it aims to be a conversation starter. As the release date approaches, expectations are building for a drama that doesn’t just ask questions about justice, but forces viewers to sit with the answers long after the lights come back on.
Check Out The Trailer:-