Showing posts with label Mukesh Chhabra interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mukesh Chhabra interview. Show all posts
Three actors who declined Dhurandhar told me after release, 'I wish we would have said yes'-Mukesh Chhabra
10:47 AM
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra spills the beans on casting for the Dhurandhar franchise and why he avoids the obvious picks
Sonal Kalra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 28, 2026)
With Dhurandhar The Revenge smashing box office records, following closely after its predecessor Dhurandhar (2025), the films have earned praise for their ensemble cast. Behind this casting is Mukesh Chhabra. The casting director of Aditya Dhar’s magnum opus gets talking on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra. Excerpts:
After Dhurandhar, audiences are not just talking about the lead cast, but the entire ensemble, and ‘peak detailing’ has gone viral. Who did you enjoy casting the most?
Initially, only Ranveer Singh was on board. From there, the cast grew, starting with Akshaye Khanna as Rahman Dakait, followed by Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan. It’s very difficult to get a big star cast to do an ensemble film today. Sanjay Dutt bhai came on board almost immediately, and so did Madhavan. And that was, honestly, my favourite moment: on the first day, within just two hours, we had locked that casting. Altogether, the casting process for both films took nearly a year and a half.
Rakesh Bedi has been a fabulous actor, but no one could have imagined him for Jameel Jamali’s role. How did you get the idea?
People hire me for my opinion and my ideas. It’s not about data; it’s just about who will fit where. How do you surprise the audience? There are so many actors who said no to Jameel’s part in the beginning. But then we thought… Rakesh had done one scene with Aditya Dhar in Uri: The Surgical Strike. I said, “If you have already worked with him, why don’t you think of him again? He’s great.” People will be in shock because he does mostly comedy scenes. I immediately called him and said, “Rakesh bhai, I had told you that a big project is coming. It’s here. Talk to Aditya Dhar.” We were sitting together, and on that call, we locked him.
If I talk about Gaurav Gera, we have known him for years for his very cute, comic characters. Even people around him couldn’t recognize him as Aalam here. If someone looks so different, how do you imagine him in a completely different role?
When I read the script, I always think, how can I go against the typical way of thinking about casting? I had seen a lot of work by Gaurav. He made interesting mimicry or comic videos… I noticed things no one else has seen. Also, surprisingly, he had left Mumbai and shifted back to Gurgaon. He had given up on films. I called him and asked if he would grow his beard for a few days because I wanted to test him for a character. He agreed. After watching him, Aditya asked, “Who is this actor?” I said, “Gaurav Gera.” He exclaimed, “What?”
I think after the film, every single person in the industry messaged me and asked who the actor was, cast as Alam. They said, “He is a new face.” I said, “He is not new, he is Gaurav!”
Also, the Nawaz Sharif character in Dhurandhar The Revenge, people are amazed at the casting. I know there may be special effects or AI, but still, how did that happen?
In the whole film process, we had real-life references. So, I worked with my team for 4-5 months and did research on people’s faces. We looked at all the data: who looks close to them, their personality, their behaviour, and their height.
I divided them on the basis of their physicality in a folder. Then, I started auditioning people according to it.
Today I can tell three actors had said no to this film. They have all said after it was released, ‘I wish we would have said yes.’ And now they remind, ‘Next time, don’t forget. I will say yes, whatever you tell me’. Suddenly, after the first film, I get messages from actors: ‘You tell me what to do; I’m on’.
Tell us about Sara Arjun’s casting in Dhurandhar. It was a big project, and you were taking an actress making her proper debut.
Initially, we thought of so many big, established actors. Aditya got so many messages from different people; I got messages asking, “Why not me?” We were very clear that the whole world should feel like she’s a fresh girl — someone who doesn’t have a background in films. We auditioned so many people, more than 1,000 girls. I made it very clear: completely fresh, a new approach, and of course, language. It should feel like she’s from there because the film feels like you’re going to that country. That was the whole idea.
In the second film, that scene with Ranveer Singh where she asks, “Are you a Hindustani agent?”—that was my audition script. I decided, first, the girl’s physicality and appearance should match the role, and then whoever does a good job, we will shortlist. We did the scene with a minimum of 50 people after shortlisting. Then we shortlisted 30, came down to 20, then 10, then five, three, and one. Sara gave a kick-a*s audition. I’m going to release that soon.
If you release all the audition tapes of Dhurandhar’s casting, that will be a super hit!
I’ve been playing with one idea: releasing a documentary on the process of casting.
Was it in the fate of this project to become such a superhit?
Aditya’s conviction was seen on the first day. Even now, I remember the words: “See what will happen after this film.” Such strong conviction. His way of thinking about scenes, the way he designs them, his sensibility of music—he surprised people.
Because of your work, the overall image of casting directors has been raised. The casting industry is going to benefit a lot.
Thank you very much. I am hoping that the whole community will benefit. We have made a good base; we have done it with respect and dignity. A lot of people go for training for camerawork, for editing, for direction, and for acting. I hope in the future I also make an institute where people come to learn casting and make it a full-fledged profession. Because it took us a lot of years; today it’s been 20 years. Only now are we talking about casting, when it should have happened a long time ago. It’s a very good change.
Totally. There are a lot of aspiring actors who, even before, must have been trying to impress you. After Dhurandhar, all the more. For such aspiring actors, what advice do you have?
I don’t have one; there are two or three things that I want to explain nicely. First of all, this whole industry is a game of patience, and nothing is going to happen overnight. You keep working on your craft. Sometimes people get into the wrong networking; they get into socializing… Nothing is going to happen. Just have some patience. If it’s meant for you, it will be yours. Today’s generation loses patience very quickly. In the time of social media, they think that they will make a reel and it will go viral. No, acting is very different;
You have talked about social media: how much presence should aspiring actors have?
If you look at Dhurandhar, I have not cast any actors who are popular because of social media. On social media, you are an influencer or content creator; that is a different job. Don’t mix that with acting. Acting is a process. But you should stay on social media because you look like this, or you have a presence; this is like how your identity card looks.
Never sell your talent on social media; do it for the camera. Whatever work you are made for, do it there. I don’t think all the big directors are sitting on social media; we don’t really like to see that. Some are using these followers and content creators because they want to promote a song, a brand, or a new music video. For them it works. For us, it doesn’t.
No one would imagine Sushant Singh Rajput was depressed-Mukesh Chhabra
7:22 PM
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 12, 2020)
Content with the positive response his debut directorial Dil Bechara has been garnering, Mukesh Chhabra misses having late actor Sushant Singh Rajput by his side to celebrate. Dil Bechara, a remake of the Hollywood film The Fault In Our Stars (2014), was Rajput’s last film. Chhabra had revealed that Rajput was excited about the film and kept his promise to be a part of his directorial debut.“Sushant would have been really happy. Everything he did, he did to make people happy and bring a smile on their faces. I think he would have been really proud… I can’t stop thinking how different and meaningful it would be with him around. I miss his smile and his pure soul. I miss calling him brother a lot,” says Chhabra. “People are saying lovely things about the film. Be it the on-point portrayal of characters, their emotional journey, and the honesty of the film,” adds Chhabra.
Those who had known Rajput closely have mostly spoke about his happy-go-lucky nature, siding reports of him showing any signs of being stressed or depressed. Chhabra affirms the thought saying, “Sushant was always such a happy guy. No one would ever even imagine such things about him. He was always playful and so energetic on set.” On whether Rajput ever mentioned about anything bothering him or behaved in a certain way, Chhapra replies, “No, he didn’t but like I said, he was always playful and energetic whenever we met.” Ask him about the ongoing investigation into Rajput’s death case and Chhabra says not much except, “everything is going as per law”.
Meanwhile, he is occupied with his upcoming work. Given the current crisis, he is trying his best to progress as much possible. “I’m learning to live with the new normal and approaching each day and each project as it comes,” he says, without divulging details about his next projects.
Right now, I don’t know what I am feeling, if I should be happy or sad-Mukesh Chhabra
9:19 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 19, 2020)
The last month, following actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise, has been difficult for many in the industry, and perhaps a bit more for casting director, Mukesh Chhabra. A close friend and “like a brother” to the late actor, Chhabra turned director with a film starring Rajput and has been working on “finishing it for the last few weeks”.
He says, “It was so difficult to work on the film. Right now, I don’t know what I am feeling, if I should be happy or sad. There are a lot of mixed emotions and I don’t know how to react to situations now. It is bittersweet, perhaps. For me, the meaning of the film has changed as he is gone.” Chhabra’s debut directorial Dil Bechara, starring Rajput and newbie Sanjana Sanghi, is a remake of the Hollywood film The Fault In Our Stars (2014).
The director tells us that the last time they spoke was on Chhabra’s birthday in May. “We had a normal conversation. I didn’t know that he had any issues (regarding mental health),” he shares. Ask him about the theories regarding Rajput’s death and demands for a CBI inquiry, and the director replies, “I haven’t been on social media much. The investigation is on, and will take its course. My focus is to do justice to Sushant’s last film.”
While fans have been asking for a theatrical release for the film, Chhabra feels releasing on an OTT platform is the best decision as “everyone can watch it”. “Times are such that every other film is releasing on OTT... At the end of the day, why do we make films? So that maximum number of people watch it. Ab wohi hoga. For another one year, there’s no chance of going to the theatres, I feel,” asserts the director.
Once you have cast for Rajkumar Hirani, you can cast for any other film-Mukesh Chhabra
7:58 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 16, 2014)
Mukesh Chhabra aka Casting
Chhabra as he is lovingly called, is 33. He is emotional, very good at
his work, though not as good when it comes to his relationships. His
casting is very rooted and he is proud of many talented people that he
has launched, including Rajkummar Rao, Sushant Singh Rajput and Amit
Sadh. His casting takes away all his time, but he enjoys looking for new
talent and helping them reach their goal. While Imtiaz Ali gave him his
first break in Love Aaj Kal, it was Anurag
Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur that made him famous. While the casting
director has always been one of the most important persons in the making
of a film in Hollywood, Bollywood has recently begun to recognise its
importance. In a conversation with the extremely talented and passionate
Mukesh, we tell you all that it takes to become and remain a casting
director. Excerpts:
How did you become a casting director?
I am a Punjabi, born and brought up in Delhi. My dad retired as a regular government servant, where we could afford to buy fruits every 31st of the month. I used to love playing cricket, till when I was put in summer creative workshop at the National School Of Drama at the age of 16. Post completing my Class XII, I joined the Shri Ram Centre acting course and simultaneously completed my graduation, as that was a requirement of taking up a job at TIE, that is a part of NSD. Post Shri Ram Centre, I had done freelance theatre with NK Sharma's group, of which Imtiaz Ali was also a part. I then joined TIE that works with children and I worked there for seven years, teaching acting to kids and doing workshops. I have always found working with kids very fascinating. Also, being a middle-class boy, it gave me a fixed salary at that time of Rs 12,000 per month and a bonus on Diwali. My parents were so happy with my job that they went and did a puja at the temple. While I was at TIE at NSD, I would direct plays and also do street plays. In fact, I have done many with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, where he would get paid Rs 200 as he was famous in the Delhi theatre circuit and I got only Rs 50. I was not a good actor and my mind would always work towards direction and casting. Also, having seen so many actors pass out from NSD, I knew many of them. I then joined a television news company, where I ran one of their puppet shows, but soon I realised that I did not like the corporate system and regretted leaving the NSD job. I used to help cast kids, for instance, I helped Vishal Bhardwaj and decided to move to Mumbai in 2007. I had, by this time, become the guy who could help find, so to say, kamaal ke bache. Also, since I had performed theatre with the kids throughout India during festivals, I got exposed to theatre artists pan India and knew each one of them. I started assisting for small supporting casts in films like Rang De Basanti, Kaminey and Chak De India. My first break as a full casting director was given by Imtiaz Ali in Love Aaj Kal and I got my recognition by casting all the 300-350 actors in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur and the children in Chillar Party. I then cast for Kai Po Che, Shahid and now for many, including Raju Hirani's PK.
How does casting happen?
Step 1: You sign an NDA and then read the script from which I make my points.
Step 2: I then agree on the common brief and then start searching for people and do auditions.
Step 3: When I am sure, I present the audition tapes to the director. Sometimes, it bounces back, but in my case, 99% it goes through.
How long does it take to cast for a film?
Usually, it takes 2-4 months to cast. But films like PK and Gangs Of Wasseypur take from a year to a year-and-a-half as it involves a lot of work.
How much can you get paid to be a casting director?
We get paid about Rs 10-20 lakhs for a film based on the size of the film. But it is now increasing as people are realising the value of casting in a film.
Which directors have you enjoyed casting most for?
Anurag Kashyap, as he trusts you so much and goes with your gut. I love Imtiaz Ali as he gives you so much detailing for even the smallest roles. He will tell you even the kind of tea wallah he wants in the background. He is very poetic and I love just listening to him. And Rajkumar Hirani, of course. I have cast for all his ads and he had not worked with a full-fledged casting director before. His detailing is not basis being a good-looking actor, his detailing is about each frame and you learn so much from him. Once you have cast for him, you can cast for any other film.
What is your motivation as a casting director?
Finding new talent. Being a conduit for reaching them to their goal, presenting the talent to a director and then later, seeing their performance.
Given the prevalence of the casting couch, do you have CCTVs in your office?
In today's day and age, you cannot manage without putting cameras in your office. We have 13 CCTVs as when actors get desperate they can say anything to malign you.
Do stars change their behaviour before and after getting their breaks?
You do feel cheated, but then you realise that it is part of your job. They change completely after becoming a star or the release of their film. Before getting the film, if they call you 10 times, post getting the film, they will call you once. Before they get their role, they will call you and ask, 'Mukesh bhai kya ho raha hai?' After the film, from Mukesh bhai, it will become Mukesh. They will come and wait 2 hours before the audition. After the release, they will keep postponing coming to meet. Before, they will talk to you without arguing. After, the way they talk and butter you completely changes.
With the importance of the casting director, what do actors do?
They will sms you 24 hours. They wish me good morning and good night and will not forget to wish me on any festival. They will not leave any opportunity if they read even a small thing about you or something good happens to you to congratulate you for it. I feel sorry for myself if I go to a coffee shop, as they will see you and start buttering. I feel like telling them, sometimes, meet me, sit with me, have a coffee but let's not talk about work. They will sit with you for just five minutes and the sixth minute ask, 'Anything interesting for me?' I also understand that they need me. And that's why I don't like to be seen too much as even my old genuine theatre friends expect you to cast them. They start treating you like a casting director more than a friend and it doesn't feel good. They will call me and say, `Give me that director's name, can you push me somewhere.'
Who do you love the most in the world?
I am most attached to my dad. He always says, 'Beta, I can only give you my blessings.' But he has done so much for me that I can never leave him. When he retired, I told him, 'Papa, I have earned some money, please come and stay with me.' So my parents now live with me in Mumbai. He will only ask me, 'Puttar, are you happy?' He feels very happy when he sees my name somewhere as the casting director. They are very simple, desi, village type. He feels that I don't think about my future, don't build a house, don't get married, but I want to do more work and become even bigger. I struggled a lot in Mumbai having just Rs 50 with me on my first Diwali. No director would give you work or talk to you and people that I work with today would not even pick up my phone then. But I will always remain grateful to Imtiaz Ali for being the first director to have given me full credit for being a casting director and then Anurag Kashyap as everyone came to know me after Gangs Of Wasseypur.
How did you become a casting director?
I am a Punjabi, born and brought up in Delhi. My dad retired as a regular government servant, where we could afford to buy fruits every 31st of the month. I used to love playing cricket, till when I was put in summer creative workshop at the National School Of Drama at the age of 16. Post completing my Class XII, I joined the Shri Ram Centre acting course and simultaneously completed my graduation, as that was a requirement of taking up a job at TIE, that is a part of NSD. Post Shri Ram Centre, I had done freelance theatre with NK Sharma's group, of which Imtiaz Ali was also a part. I then joined TIE that works with children and I worked there for seven years, teaching acting to kids and doing workshops. I have always found working with kids very fascinating. Also, being a middle-class boy, it gave me a fixed salary at that time of Rs 12,000 per month and a bonus on Diwali. My parents were so happy with my job that they went and did a puja at the temple. While I was at TIE at NSD, I would direct plays and also do street plays. In fact, I have done many with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, where he would get paid Rs 200 as he was famous in the Delhi theatre circuit and I got only Rs 50. I was not a good actor and my mind would always work towards direction and casting. Also, having seen so many actors pass out from NSD, I knew many of them. I then joined a television news company, where I ran one of their puppet shows, but soon I realised that I did not like the corporate system and regretted leaving the NSD job. I used to help cast kids, for instance, I helped Vishal Bhardwaj and decided to move to Mumbai in 2007. I had, by this time, become the guy who could help find, so to say, kamaal ke bache. Also, since I had performed theatre with the kids throughout India during festivals, I got exposed to theatre artists pan India and knew each one of them. I started assisting for small supporting casts in films like Rang De Basanti, Kaminey and Chak De India. My first break as a full casting director was given by Imtiaz Ali in Love Aaj Kal and I got my recognition by casting all the 300-350 actors in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur and the children in Chillar Party. I then cast for Kai Po Che, Shahid and now for many, including Raju Hirani's PK.
How does casting happen?
Step 1: You sign an NDA and then read the script from which I make my points.
Step 2: I then agree on the common brief and then start searching for people and do auditions.
Step 3: When I am sure, I present the audition tapes to the director. Sometimes, it bounces back, but in my case, 99% it goes through.
How long does it take to cast for a film?
Usually, it takes 2-4 months to cast. But films like PK and Gangs Of Wasseypur take from a year to a year-and-a-half as it involves a lot of work.
How much can you get paid to be a casting director?
We get paid about Rs 10-20 lakhs for a film based on the size of the film. But it is now increasing as people are realising the value of casting in a film.
Which directors have you enjoyed casting most for?
Anurag Kashyap, as he trusts you so much and goes with your gut. I love Imtiaz Ali as he gives you so much detailing for even the smallest roles. He will tell you even the kind of tea wallah he wants in the background. He is very poetic and I love just listening to him. And Rajkumar Hirani, of course. I have cast for all his ads and he had not worked with a full-fledged casting director before. His detailing is not basis being a good-looking actor, his detailing is about each frame and you learn so much from him. Once you have cast for him, you can cast for any other film.
What is your motivation as a casting director?
Finding new talent. Being a conduit for reaching them to their goal, presenting the talent to a director and then later, seeing their performance.
Given the prevalence of the casting couch, do you have CCTVs in your office?
In today's day and age, you cannot manage without putting cameras in your office. We have 13 CCTVs as when actors get desperate they can say anything to malign you.
Do stars change their behaviour before and after getting their breaks?
You do feel cheated, but then you realise that it is part of your job. They change completely after becoming a star or the release of their film. Before getting the film, if they call you 10 times, post getting the film, they will call you once. Before they get their role, they will call you and ask, 'Mukesh bhai kya ho raha hai?' After the film, from Mukesh bhai, it will become Mukesh. They will come and wait 2 hours before the audition. After the release, they will keep postponing coming to meet. Before, they will talk to you without arguing. After, the way they talk and butter you completely changes.
With the importance of the casting director, what do actors do?
They will sms you 24 hours. They wish me good morning and good night and will not forget to wish me on any festival. They will not leave any opportunity if they read even a small thing about you or something good happens to you to congratulate you for it. I feel sorry for myself if I go to a coffee shop, as they will see you and start buttering. I feel like telling them, sometimes, meet me, sit with me, have a coffee but let's not talk about work. They will sit with you for just five minutes and the sixth minute ask, 'Anything interesting for me?' I also understand that they need me. And that's why I don't like to be seen too much as even my old genuine theatre friends expect you to cast them. They start treating you like a casting director more than a friend and it doesn't feel good. They will call me and say, `Give me that director's name, can you push me somewhere.'
Who do you love the most in the world?
I am most attached to my dad. He always says, 'Beta, I can only give you my blessings.' But he has done so much for me that I can never leave him. When he retired, I told him, 'Papa, I have earned some money, please come and stay with me.' So my parents now live with me in Mumbai. He will only ask me, 'Puttar, are you happy?' He feels very happy when he sees my name somewhere as the casting director. They are very simple, desi, village type. He feels that I don't think about my future, don't build a house, don't get married, but I want to do more work and become even bigger. I struggled a lot in Mumbai having just Rs 50 with me on my first Diwali. No director would give you work or talk to you and people that I work with today would not even pick up my phone then. But I will always remain grateful to Imtiaz Ali for being the first director to have given me full credit for being a casting director and then Anurag Kashyap as everyone came to know me after Gangs Of Wasseypur.
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