Mukesh Chhabra recalls facing disputes over casting Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi | Hindi Movie News – The Times of India

Bollywood casting director Mukesh Chhabra recently took part in an interview on the streets of Delhi, where he shared insights about his career journey, revealed behind-the-scenes details of his casting methods, and discussed his significant future plans. As he enjoyed some tasty Delhi street food, Chhabra also recalled times when he had creative differences with directors regarding actor selections.
Insight into His Casting Process
When discussing his casting process, Chhabra said he begins by thoroughly reading the script to understand the story and its setting. He then starts his own search for the best actors, continuing until he feels completely confident in his choices. He also recalled instances of disagreement with directors, such as when he wanted to cast Rajkummar Rao for ‘Kai Po Che’ and Pankaj Tripathi for ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, but the directors were initially not on board. In a lighter part of the interview, Mukesh mentioned that he has never cast friends just to favor them and admitted to having some regrets about certain casting decisions.
Personal Loss and Its Impact
During his interaction with Curly Tales, Chhabra opened up about losing his mother and how the unfortunate incident changed him as a man. He shared that he felt completely broken and it took him three to four months to recover, during which he even moved out of his house because the experience was very difficult. He also mentioned that celebrities like Farah Khan, Kriti Sanon, and Rajkummar Rao supported him and helped him get through that tough time. Chhabra further explained that losing his mother changed his life significantly, as he felt the absence of female energy in the house, highlighting the importance of having women’s presence in one’s life.
Future Plans for Expansion
During the interview, Chhabra also shared his future vision of expanding casting offices throughout India, acknowledging that not everyone has the means to relocate to Bombay. He also revealed his intentions to establish branches in cities like London, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and in the Northeast region of the country.