Mukesh Chhabra shares Akshaye Khanna’s 1st reaction after listening to Dhurandhar narration: “He looked at me and said…”; also reveals the casting for the Ranveer Singh starrer took a year and a half

Mukesh Chhabra has, over the years, become a celebrated name when it comes to casting directors. He is currently being praised for his casting in the recently-released blockbuster Dhurandhar. Apart from this film, he also got talking about the Oscars introducing a new category for Best Casting Director in an interview with us.

 

Mukesh Chhabra shares Akshaye Khanna’s 1st reaction after listening to Dhurandhar narration: “He looked at me and said…”; also reveals the casting for the Ranveer Singh starrer took a year and a half

 

The Oscars have introduced a new category of nominations for Best Casting Director. Your thoughts on this?

 

I’m extremely thankful to the Academy for introducing this category. It’s a historic and much-needed recognition of casting as a core creative department in filmmaking. I’m genuinely excited about this contribution to the awards ecosystem. I hope this also helps our film industry in India understand how important and impactful the casting department truly is. Having said that, very honestly, my focus has always been on the biggest global benchmark — the Oscars. Winning an Oscar for casting is my only target. That is the dream I’m working towards, and I hope one day I bring that Oscar to this country. I pray for it every single day.

 

A major part of the magic of Dhurandhar lies in its actors. Each one feels born to play the role they inhabit. Was it a long and challenging process to bring this ensemble together?

 

Yes, the process was very long. The entire casting journey took almost one and a half years. For nearly every role, we explored multiple actors, many different names for each character. It was never about locking someone in quickly; it was about taking the time to find the right fit. The process was long, but also incredibly interesting and creatively fulfilling. A lot goes on behind the scenes that people don’t get to see, so when audiences respond so strongly to the casting, it feels deeply rewarding. I’m truly grateful that people have loved the ensemble. At the end of the day, I was fortunate to be working with such an amazing script and such well-written characters — that foundation allowed me to do my best as a casting director.

 

Akshaye Khanna has completely swept across the national consciousness with his performance. Was he your first choice for Rehman Dakait? And did you have to convince him to play a Muslim antagonist for the second time this year?

 

Honestly, for Rehman Dakait, we considered many names. The thought process itself went on for a couple of months. We discussed multiple actors and even spoke to a few people, trying to understand who would truly be the right fit. But the first official call for a narration went to Akshaye Khanna. We thought, let’s try this and see where it goes. I’m very glad he immediately came in for the narration.

 

 

During the narration, he was quietly listening. I was sitting right next to him, just watching his reactions. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t ask questions — he just absorbed everything. After the narration, he looked at me and said, ‘Mukesh, fantastic.’ He read the script the same day, and the very next morning he called me and said he loved it. From that moment, everything felt absolutely clear. There was never any discussion about repetition or religion. We don’t look at characters that way — we look at truth, writing, and whether the actor belongs to the part.

 

Were all the actors first-choice selections, or did you explore multiple options for each character before locking the cast?

 

For every single character, we had multiple names. That’s completely natural in a film of this scale. Not all actors were first-choice selections, but for almost every role, we explored many options. We had long discussions, debates, and took our time to understand who would truly fit each character. That exploration is a very important part of casting. It sharpens your instinct and brings clarity. Some actors came together quickly, others took longer — but once we locked someone, there was no doubt left. So while not every actor was the first name on paper, every actor who finally came on board was the right choice. That’s what ultimately matters.

 

Some of the casting choices feel genuinely surprising and inspired. How did you arrive at actors like Gaurav Gera for Mohammad Aalam and Rakesh Bedi for their roles?

 

Thank you. With actors like Gaurav Gera and Rakesh Bedi, we consciously wanted to surprise people. We didn’t want to go down the regular, cliché casting route. Very often, with roles like these, you end up seeing the same faces again and again. So, we wrote down many names for each part and started making detailed notes — what the actors had done before, the kind of roles they’re associated with, their screen image, and their body of work. With Gaurav Gera, he felt completely fresh for this world. People couldn’t imagine him doing something like this — and that’s exactly why he excited us. The same applied to Rakesh Bedi; there was an opportunity to present him in a way audiences wouldn’t expect. I genuinely enjoy surprising people with casting. I like breaking familiarity and creating that moment where the audience says, “I didn’t see this coming.” For me, that’s when casting truly works.

 

 

How did Sara Arjun come into the picture, especially considering the age dynamic opposite Ranveer Singh?

 

We auditioned a lot of people. We didn’t want to leave out a single person we felt could be right for the role. The brief was very clear — the actor had to look Pakistani and bring a young, fresh energy. We tested many actors, and then suddenly Sara Arjun’s name came up. She had done a few ads with us earlier, and I had also seen her work as a child actor in films. We decided to test her — and she turned out to be a brilliant, fantastic actor. She did a truly wonderful job. Regarding the age conversation — yes, I’ve seen the tweets and discussions. But the idea was always to cast a young girl. That choice is central to the story. There is a very specific reason why she falls in love with that character, and that becomes clear in Part Two. According to both Aditya and me, the chemistry worked beautifully. And I genuinely believe that when Part Two releases, everyone questioning the age difference will have all their answers.

 

What do you believe has made you the most sought-after casting directors in Indian cinema today?

 

I honestly don’t think of myself as “sought after.” I just think of myself as someone who takes casting very seriously and very personally. I believe directors and producers trust that I protect the film first. I try to understand the director’s vision deeply and then find actors who can serve that vision truthfully — not trends, not market pressure, not familiarity. At the same time, actors trust that I see them beyond stereotypes and give them opportunities to surprise themselves and the audience. I spend a lot of time on process — researching, auditioning, re-auditioning, and really understanding people. Casting, for me, is not about faces or names; it’s about instinct backed by hard work.

 

Every time I start a new film, I don’t think about my past work or successes. I think of myself as a fresh, insecure newcomer who has just come to this city to prove himself. I want that insecurity to stay with me — it keeps me present, alert, and hungry. I don’t like the comfort of thinking, “He was a good casting director.” I want to remain good — every single time. That’s why I keep pushing myself, questioning my choices, and working hard. For me, casting is about staying honest, staying humble, and never taking the process lightly. That’s what drives me every day.

 

Also Read: Akshaye Khanna keeps it low-key after ‘Dhurandhar’ success, performs Vastu Shanti hawan at Alibaug home

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