casting: Even after 250 films, people still only know me as the casting director of Gangs of Wasseypur: Mukesh Chhabra at NFDC Film Bazaar | Hindi Movie News

During a discussion entitled “Casting It Right” at the NFDC Film Bazaar, organized on the sidelines of IFFI, casting directors Mukesh Chhabra and Abhishek Banerjee talked about the evolution of casting in Bollywood cinema. Once not taken seriously once upon a time, in the post-Gangs Of Wasseypur era, it has become one of the most important elements of film production. Excerpts:

“Commercial Indian cinema woke up to the fact that film casting was crucial in the early 2000s”

Gautam Chintamani, a film historian who moderated the session, noted that in the early 2000s, commercial Indian cinema began to awaken to the fact that casting was critical, as stories and characters changed. He said, “He is the character who makes the film. I think the first time I noticed Mukesh Chhabra’s name was during Gangs Of Wasseypur.”

Chhabra shared that even after he has made 250 films, people still say “yeh toh Wasseypur wala casting director hai”. He said, “It was not that casting directors were not there before in Bollywood, but what we (the new casting directors) can believe is to give newcomers opportunities, because before there was very little room for newcomers to Bollywood. When I started casting “I did not know it would be such a big deal. It was just a job and we started it with so much love. We were like – ‘we know these actors and directors, so let’s find something.'” Anurag Kashyap and Tigmanshu Dhulia are always on the lookout for good actors.

“Casting is one of the most important elements today”
Talking about why he chose Kangana Ranaut for Thalaivii, AL Vijay, the film’s director, said: “The most important thing today is casting. I think the most important thing to play the role of Jaya Amma was that we needed a great actress. There were so many ups and downs in the character, he had to gain and lose weight, and Kangana is a great actor. “Abhishek Banerjee, who played Hathauda Tyagi in Pataal Lok, who was the casting director for films like Mary Kom, Kalank, and No One Killed Jessica, as well as shows such as Pataal Lok, pointed out that casting directors are now taken seriously, unlike before, when they were considered “moderators”.

He said, “Pehle puchha jata tha,” batao kitne old aur kitne جوانρός log hain tumhare paas “; Συντονιστής ya agent ke jaise treat kiya jata tha.”

He added, “Our writers write characters so deeply, and so we have to find the perfect fit for the character. During The Dirty Picture, which was one of my first films, Mr. Milan (Milan Luthra, director of the movie) asked me only one question, “where are these actors from? I’ve not seen them on TV. “And I told him,” Because these actors are from the theater, the producers of jahan bade nahin ghoomte. ”


“Aisa bhi hota hai, when the actor you will play becomes a star, he stops picking up your phone”

Banerjee added, “I always feel that casting is a selfless job. Aisa bhi hota hai, jab actor star ban jata hai toh woh uss hi casting director ka phone uthana chhod deta hai.”

Speaking about the newcomers, Tsampra said: “So many actors tell us they don’t want to be invited, but we tell them, ‘bhai, tu pehle cast toh ho jaa. Newcomers have a lot of ideas about their character type. I want to “I play, but I always tell them that first they have to be able to decide. Make 60-70 movies and then you can talk about downloading guys.”

Speaking of cracks when she was turned down for a role, Kirti Kulhari said, “Rejections are part of the process and they are too many compared to hits. There is a constant desperate struggle. For actors, casting directors are very crucial. bridge for us “.