Mukesh Chhabra Opens Up About his Conflicts with Hansal Mehta, Imtiaz Ali’s Character Insight, and Rajkumar Hirani’s High Expectations
Mukesh Chhabra is well-known in the film industry as a popular casting director. He recently shared insights into the casting process with various filmmakers on Pinkvilla’s podcast. He talked about his experiences working with directors like Hansal Mehta, Imtiaz Ali, and Rajkumar Hirani.
Mukesh Chhabra on casting process of Hansal Mehta, Imtiaz Ali, and Rajkumar Hirani
During an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Mukesh Chhabra discussed the character brief he received from Hansal Mehta for the casting process. He mentioned, “We both have a lot of respect for each other, we love each other, we fight and argue.”
He explained, “I probably have had the most fights with Hansal sir. His brief usually is ‘Did you see it?’ When he says that, it comes with a lot of pressure and tension.”
Chhabra also revealed that Hansal Mehta never gave him a direct brief, instead encouraging him to think differently and creatively.
When it comes to Imtiaz Ali, Chhabra shared, “Imtiaz Ali’s briefs always have a lot of love in them. Even for a small role, he tells a beautiful story.”
He mentioned that Imtiaz Ali would provide detailed backstories for characters, even those with minimal screen time.
Discussing Rajkumar Hirani, Mukesh Chhabra disclosed, “Raju sir’s briefs are very specific. He has a clear image in his mind about the character’s appearance, like their height, and whether they wear glasses.”
Chhabra added that the filmmaker would provide exact physical descriptions for casting purposes.
Watch the full interview here!
Overall, Mukesh Chhabra shared interesting insights into his collaborative experiences with these acclaimed filmmakers.
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