How did Taapsee become Akshay Kumar's leading lady?

There were many takers for the female lead in Aksjay Kumar-starrer Baby, yet Taapsee got the role. Here's how:

Actor Taapsee Pannu, who made her Bollywood debut with Chashme Baddoor (2013), is all upbeat about her big ticket Bollyowood break, Baby, in which she is cat alongside actor Akshay Kumar. And one hears that there were many takers for the role she is playing in the film, but she bagged it because of her spoken Urdu skill. Taapsee, who has worked in many Tamil and Telugu films before entering Bollywood, won director Neeraj Pandey by reading just a few lines. Owing to her chirpy character from her debut film Chashme Baddoor, Neeraj wasn’t confident on having Tappsee for the role as it required someone mellow. And he wanted someone who could speak Urdu crisp and clear. 

Akshay pic: Masala.Com

So, when she met Neeraj, she was asked to read a few dialogues. Taapsee shares, “All Neeraj asked me to do was to read a few lines which had quite a few Urdu words and phrases. Being a Punjabi girl, people expect me to have a north Indian influence in my speech. But, to his surprise I managed decently well, I guess. And that’s it,” laughs the 27-year-old. Just two dialogues, and she was signed on,” says the source.