Casting director Shruti Mahajan, who has worked on films like Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela, Mary Kom, Finding Fanny, Bajirao Mastani, and Rustom, among others, recently spoke with IMDb about her journey of over a decade in the entertainment industry. She shared insights on the exhaustive process of casting for a film and aspiring actors can do to ace an audition.
Touching upon her upcoming projects, Mahajan said, “I think I am extremely lucky to work with the greatest minds in the Indian film industry, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, R Balki, Prakash Jha, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nagesh Kukunoor, and many more. My upcoming films include Mr Bhansali’s Love & War, Prakash Jha’s webseries Laal Batti and his next film. Mr Balki’s next film as well is a project I am working on alongside Alankrita’s Bandra Christmas, Excel’s movie Ground Zero and much more.”
Describing the casting process of a film, Mahajan revealed, “The casting process starts with understanding the brief, the vision, and mindset of the director. Post that, the script works as the Bible. Post reading the script, the characters are divided into roughly 3-4 categories which are the lead actor, primary actor, secondary actors, and the tertiary actors. Lead casting is the foundation of any film. Casting for the lead cast is very different from the others. A lot of time is spent in the process, there are multiple meetings with the directors. Many factors are involved here, depending on what the script requires, the budget, and what would make the audience happy. We do multiple auditions, shortlist contenders, do a look test, chemistry check, then we find a lead actor.”
Sharing what she looks for in an actor, Mahajan mentioned, “Their acting followed by persona, which is their screen presence. Last but not the least is the X factor, which cannot be defined in words. It exists or it doesn’t, but it cannot be defined in words, it must be felt. That is something that stays with audiences and makes one a likeable actor.”
Recalling an instance when she felt the X Factor in an actor, Mahajan said, “During the casting for Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela, I spotted Gulshan Devaiah outside a cafe in Versova. I didn’t know him and hadn’t seen much of his work, but there was some X Factor which did make an impression. He had his own style of walking. I could spot the star factor in him from a distance. I rushed to him and asked him if he is an actor. I introduced myself. It was my first film so obviously he had never heard of me. I told him I’m looking for an actor for Mr.Bhansali’s film. He thought it was a joke. I told my team and they found his profile as he had done this film called Shaitan, that’s how we spotted him. Gulshan’s role was the last casting pending for that film. The minute Mr.Bhansali met him, we didn’t even audition him, that was the X factor that got him the part. Richa Chadha too has her own style of acting and behaving. She’s very peculiar, that again makes her very original, which is her X Factor.”
Mahajan added, “Pratibha Ranta had auditioned for us long back for Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. During that audition, we saw a spark in her. Her energy, her youthfulness is what we were looking for in that particular role. Once Laapataa Ladies happened, and then people saw her in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. She auditioned for Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar before Laapataa Ladies. She’s a fine actor and has an X Factor which is why you see her as a leading lady now.”
Speaking about instances where she felt gratified after casting actors against their stereotype, Mahajan mentioned, “When I presented Supriya Pathak’s name to Mr Bhansali for Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela, obviously she came with a huge baggage of Khichdi. She’s a very fine senior actor but there was a huge baggage. I reached out to her and mentioned that I had given her name to Mr Bhansali. There was this hunger, she also wanted to prove herself. I told her we’d have to audition her. She was so forthcoming. She was so easy and mentioned that this was her chance to show that she’s more than the Bhabhi from Khichdi. She cracked the audition so beautifully and made it so easy for me as a casting director. She did not come with any baggage of her seniority and her experience. She was as giving and welcoming as any fresh actor or a new actor would be.”
Mahajan continued, “Bobby Deol was always this chocolate boy, Deol family’s son. For him to get out of that and be cast for Aashram – it is gratifying as a casting director and also makes you believe in the system that there is a way and one should not give up as an actor. Keep walking, keep believing.”
Speaking about the casting of Manisha Koirala in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Mahajan revealed, “I have worked with Mr Bhansali for a long time, so we have a great working equation. I understand what he wants. The character required a certain kind of magnus opus, beauty and authenticity. It was a period drama. Keeping all of this in mind, we shortlisted a few known actors as Mr Bhansali was clear that he wanted a popular face. Manisha and him had worked way back in his first film Khamoshi The Musical. They had a great working equation and friendly relationship. When I pitched her name, he definitely got excited. We started this casting during Covid. I reached out to Manisha, who was in Nepal at that time. She was more than happy to set up a Zoom meeting. Once the two of them got together, there was no going back.”
