Actor Dean Shruti Mahajan has worked in films like Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela, Mary Kom, Finding Fanny, Bajirao Mastani and Rustom have recently spoken with IMDB. She shares insights into the film’s exhaustive playback process, while aspiring actors can listen for the trump card.
Mahajan said: “I think it’s a collaboration with the greatest minds in the Indian film industry, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, R Balki, R Balki, Prakash Jha, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nagesh Kukunoor, and more, his next film.
Mahajan revealed in describing the casting process of the film: “The casting process starts with understanding the director’s briefness, vision and mindset. Posts, scripts work as the Bible. After reading the script, the characters are divided into 3-4 categories, which are about leaders, main actors, secondary actors, secondary actors and leaders. The time spent in the process, with multiple meetings with the directors.
When Mahajan shared what she was looking for in the actors, he mentioned: “Their performance is followed by the characters, which is their screen existence. The last but not least is the X factor, which cannot be defined in words. It exists or does not exist, but cannot be defined in words, it must feel. It is something that remains the same with the audience.”
Mahayan recalls an example when she feels the X factor of the actors, saying: “In the actors of Goliyon ki rasleela, I found Gulshan Devaiah outside a cafe in Versova. Outside the cafe in Versova. I don’t know his job, but he doesn’t see his X factor, he makes a certain impression in his own style. He is my first film, he is my first film. His X factor also makes him his own performance and performance style.
Mahajan added: “Pratibha Ranta has long auditioned for Heeramandi: Heeramandi: Diamond Bazaar. During that audition we saw her spark. Her energy, her youth is what we look for in a specific role. Once Ms. Laapataa happened, then at Heeramandi: Heeramandi: Diamond baza for Hearmand baza for Hearry baza. Ms. Laapataa.
Speaking of the example, Mahayan said, happy after the actor opposed his stereotypes, “When I presented Supriya Pathak’s name to Mr. Goliyon Ki Rasleela of 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 welcome as any fresh actor or new actor would be.”
Mahayan continued: “Bobby Deol has always been this chocolate boy, the son of the Deer family. To get him out of the way and play for Aashram – it’s gratifying as a cast and also makes you believe that the system and one should not give up as an actor.
Speaking about the actors of Manisha Koirala in Heeramandi: Diamond Bazaar, Mahajan revealed: “I’ve been working with Mr. Bhansali for a long time, so we have a good working equation. I know what he wants. His character needs some type of Magnus Opus, Beauty and Perlienticity. It’s obvious that his first film, Manisha, was in his first film, and my name was excited at the time.
