Mukesh Chhabra

Mukesh Chhabra shared his casting process, recalling clashes over casting Rajkummar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi. He discussed the personal impact of losing his mother and his plans to expand casting offices across India, including in London, Bhopal and Hyderabad, to broaden opportunities for aspiring actors.

Alia Bhatt and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor share a long-standing friendship. Akansha posted a 2014 audition tape, receiving a warm response from Alia. Alia's recent projects include 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' and 'Jigra'. Akansha appeared in 'Guilty' and 'Monica, O My Darling'.

It is undeniable that an actor or actress must keep themselves relevant in public and that being in the spotlight is crucial for their widespread acceptance and popularity. Over the years, media presence has evolved significantly, particularly regarding a star’s social media appearance and activity. Amidst this shift, many celebrities have spoken about actors and social media influencers securing roles in the industry based on the number of followers they have. As the discussion continues, we have gathered insights from actresses, casting directors, and filmmakers.

Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely demise on June 14, 2020, left fans grieving. A cherished tribute video showcased his auditions and film journey. The CBI recently concluded a lack of evidence for foul play, ruling out poisoning and strangulation. The investigation into his death, initially considered suicide, was extensively handled by the CBI, with no evidence of criminal conspiracy found.

The festival will feature 16 celebrity conversations and 16 industry-focused discussions, creating a vibrant platform for in-depth exploration of cinema.

The CBI has closed the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, giving a clean chit to Rhea Chakraborty. Rajput was found dead on June 14, 2020, initiating multiple probes. The closure reports in both cases have been submitted in a Mumbai court. Rhea's lawyer highlighted the hardships she faced, expressing hope that such incidents do not recur.

Pratik Gandhi shares his philosophy of diversifying roles to avoid being typecast post 'Scam 1992'. He emphasizes the need for experimentation in the film industry and advocates for giving new talent opportunities. Despite obstacles and initial struggles, he follows his gut and remains committed to storytelling.

Actor Durgesh Kumar, who is known for his performances in Highway, Panchayat and Laapataa Ladies, reflected on his decade-long journey in Bollywood. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, he admitted that the path has been challenging. When asked why larger projects haven’t come his way, he responded, “I don’t know. The industry recognizes my work, but I still have to chase casting directors for auditions. Even after Highway and Panchayat, no major production house has offered me a lead role.”

Fox Star Studios, the production house backing Mukesh Chhabra’s directorial venture ‘Kizzie Aur Manny’, has announced its decision to “suspend the services” of the casting director-turned-filmmaker until the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) concludes its inquiry into the allegations against him.

Bollywood casting directors Mukesh Chhabra and Kshitij Mehta, on Friday, during an "In-conversation" session, at the 53rd International Film festival of India, talked about the rise of opportunities in acting due to the OTT and digital platforms.

Mukesh Chhabra, during a session at Bharat Rang Mahotsav, emphasizes that acting and social media content creation are distinct professions. He claims that true talent is permanent and respected, unlike temporary social media fame, and asserts that filmmakers value a person's acting craft over their online follower count.

Casting director-filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra's mother passes away. The funeral will be held on April 14.

Hindi cinema's casting director Mukesh Chhabra, who is known for his work in films like 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', 'Tamasha' and many others, is set to launch the fifth edition of his popular theatre festival, 'Khidkiyaan'.

Ranbir Kapoor has been chosen to portray Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's film ‘Ramayana’. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra explained that Kapoor’s calm and serene demeanor made him ideal for this role. The film also features Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Raavan, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. A sequel and potential Hanuman spin-off are in the works.

Farah Khan bagged the best choreography award for Sushant Singh Rajput starrer ‘Dil Bechara’. The choreographer-cum-filmmaker penned a post on social media after she picked up her award. Posing with the trophy, Farah remembered Sushant Singh Rajput and also thanked director Mukesh Chhabra for the movie.

Shah Rukh Khan's fandom knows no bounds. The actor is not only loved for his on-screen characters but also for his off-screen persona. Recently, his 'Jawan' co-star Mukesh Chhabra revealed that Shah Rukh personally bids farewell to guests at the parties he hosts in his Mumbai residence Mannat. Chhabra praised Shah Rukh's generosity and kindness, mentioning how he was pleasantly surprised when the superstar personally saw him off after a party. This anecdote adds to the numerous accounts of Shah Rukh's courteous and welcoming nature towards his guests at Mannat.

Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Jawan' was a huge success, earning over Rs 650 crore in India. The casting director, Mukesh Chhabra, revealed that it took 1.5 years to finalize the cast due to the challenges of working with Atlee and the lack of a strong 'casting director culture' in South cinema. Despite initial conflicts, they eventually found the right people through trial and error. Mukesh also had a cameo in the film, suggested by Atlee. He is now working on Shah Rukh Khan's next project, 'Dunki,' which he believes will be remarkable.

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra is set to undertake a tour of the US, sharing his expertise with fans in a series of "Art of Acting" events. Chhabra has been responsible for casting actors for some of Bollywood's biggest hits, including Dangal (2016) and Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), and counts Rajkummar Rao and Nawazuddin Siddiqui among his finds. Chhabra said he would discuss his passion for casting, the casting process and anecdotes from his career on the tour, while journalist Faridoon Shahryar would host and add his own insights.

Mukesh Chhabra, the casting director of films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Kai Po Che, Haider and the upcoming Bombay Velvet, is now venturing into movie production.

Bollywood celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Farah Khan, Nupur Sanon and others reach hospital in Mumbai after Mukesh Chhabra's mother passed away.