Anshuman Jha talks about the importance of right casting and why he turned down Vikrant Massey’s role in Half Girlfriend

October 17, 2025 - 1:05 PM IST

Actor-director Anshuman Jha, who recently made his directorial debut with Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, shared his thoughts on the significance of casting in filmmaking. According to him, having the right cast can elevate a film’s impact and connect better with audiences—even if the film itself is average.

Anshuman Jha talks about the importance of right casting and why he turned down Vikrant Massey’s role in Half Girlfriend

“If a film has a cast that truly fits the story, it will naturally reach more people because viewers relate more deeply to authentic characters on screen,” Jha said, highlighting the casting choices of his own film, which stars Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal, Paresh Pahuja, and Zoha Rahman.

To illustrate his belief, Jha recalled turning down a role in the 2017 film Half Girlfriend. He was offered the part of the protagonist’s friend, which was eventually played by Vikrant Massey. Jha explained that he declined the role not because it was small, but because he felt the overall casting wasn't aligned with the film’s truth. “I was offered Vikrant’s role in Half Girlfriend and I said no to it. Vikrant and I spoke about it once. I genuinely felt that he should have played the lead. Had he been cast in that role, I would’ve done the friend’s part. For me, it's not about the size of the role, but about who fits the character truthfully,” Jha said.

He also addressed questions about the commercial outcome of such casting decisions, referencing the success of 12th Fail (2023), in which Massey played the lead role to wide acclaim. “Someone once told me the film wouldn’t have done well with a different cast. But I said, look at 12th Fail. If the lead in Half Girlfriend had played the lead in 12th Fail, it wouldn’t have become what it did. Vikrant brought honesty and depth to that role. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s conviction in releasing it theatrically also played a key part. The film resonated because the casting was honest.”

Jha was also full of praise for his own lead actor Arjun Mathur, expressing concern over the lack of opportunities for talented performers. “It’s really unfortunate that an actor like Arjun Mathur, who has been recognised internationally, isn’t getting the kind of work he deserves. I genuinely believe he’s the best actor named Arjun in India,” he said. “It’s disappointing because when good actors aren’t recognised, it affects the overall quality of cinema.”

He concluded by critiquing current viewing habits, suggesting that the industry’s struggles are partly due to audience choices. “We’ve all, in some way, contributed to a culture of cringe-watching. That’s why films like Jugnuma and Homebound, which are genuinely good, don’t get the numbers they deserve. Then we turn around and ask why Bollywood is making poor films. We need to reflect and be honest—with ourselves and with our audiences. At the end of the day, it all comes down to honesty,” Jha added.

Also Read: Anshuman Jha on Lord Curzon Ki Haveli being appreciated, “We believed in the film and in the intelligence of our audience”