Being a casting director is dangerous: Mukesh Chabra on his new studio

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While it's the dream of thousands to get a break that counts in Bollywood, only a handful pass the litmus test every year. Enter casting directors; men and women who are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing. Unfortunately some bad apples, in the last few years, have brought disrepute to the business, what with stories of their exploitative methods and casting couches making headlines ever so often.

Mukesh Chhabra, who's been casting director for films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Kai Po Che, wants to change that. We spoke to him about the challenges he faces while picking the perfect actor, about how his job is more dangerous than it seems and how he's looking to provide a more professional set up than a coffee shop to aspirants. Excerpts from the interview:

You've recently opened a casting studio. Congratulations.
Thank you, thank you. It's a really proud feeling. You know, I come from a middle class family and when I first came to Mumbai, I never ever thought that a day like this would come.

So you've spent all these years casting for films. Haven't you ever wanted to act yourself?
Oh no, not at all. I got a diploma in acting only because at the time, you needed one to be a casting director, but I have no such aspirations. I just want to be the bridge between directors and talented actors...

That sounds almost saintly. A bit like Mother Teresa.
(Laughs) I'm no Mother Teresa. Look, I'm just doing my job. People might identify me as the man who discovered Sushant Singh Rajput but I was doing it because I got paid for it. I don't have any saintly ambitions.

And yet you've opened a casting studio for aspirants...
Because I wanted a place where I could conduct auditions in a proper manner from 11-7 on weekdays. I don't want to hold auditions at Barista or any other coffee shop. What is that? Actors are professionals and they need to be treated like so.

So how do you go about conducting auditions?
I first take time to understand the brief and then, my doors are open to anyone who'd like to try out. Sometimes, I'm gripped instantly like I was when Shriswara auditioned for D-Day. After her audition, I sent everyone else home because there was no point of looking at anyone else - she was that perfect for that role.

Have you ever told an aspiring actor to give up his dream?
Lots of times. If they're awful, I first tell them to go home and to work on their lines but if they return and are just as bad, I ask them to reconsider their choices.

Does that always go down well?
No, not really! Casting is a more dangerous job than it seems. I remember receiving death threats and my car being broken by angry actors I'd turned down while casting for Gangs Of Wasseypur.

What?!
Yeah. But look, I get it. It's frustrating, but the important thing is to be patient with them, to get them to work on their acting skills and if there's no improvement, to gently sit them down and make them see sense.

Is it disappointing that casting directors gets a bad rap?
Absolutely, but I have hope that it will get better. I've got 18 CCTV cameras installed in my studio to ensure complete transparency and I'm hoping that in time, the studio will turn into a creative hub where directors and actors can find each other. I'm also conducting workshops on the weekend for free!

What's changed in the last few years for casting directors?
It's a whole lot more professional now. When I started, a casting director was little more than a glorified assistant director and nothing else. He would have to accept amounts as less as Rs 3000 for the job and run around to meet the actor's every need. It's much better now.

And what about actors?
It's gotten worse for character actors. There are so many out of work now because the lines are all blurred by the new actor's willingness to do anything and not just the lead role.

Of all the people you've casted, who are you most of?
I'd say Sushant Singh Rajoput, Rajkummar Rao and Tigmanshu Dhulia in that order. Of the women, I'd say Shriswara.

And finally, is there any advice you'd like to give aspiring actors?
Be honest. Please act. Don't think about your mascara, how good your body looks and if your six pack is intact. Your acting is what is going to take you places, not your looks.