Mukesh Chhabra reveals how mammoth cast of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan fell in place: 160 actors and more than a year of prep

Jawan has created history since its release, breaking every record possible and garnering massive acclaim along the way. Chhabra says he saw this coming for the film and is glad the team’s hard work has paid off. “There is so much love from everyone and to every department. We worked hard for this, the acclaim, the love–since business side of a film is not my department–and when you see that translating, it feels so special. I knew Shah Rukh will break his own record of Pathaan, and that’s exactly what has happened.”

In an interview with Indianexpress.com, Mukesh Chhabra breaks down the process of casting for Jawan– the toughest role to cast, the duration it took, how was Shah Rukh as a producer and co-star, and his turn as an actor.

Edited excerpts:

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When did the casting process begin?

Exactly two years ago. I remember I was told that I have to work with Atlee, so I saw his south films. I had read the script and I knew the casting would be huge! For two years, I had to keep the story (of Jawan) strictly confidential, not talk to anyone at all about this. When you are excited over something, it is natural to be tempted to tell people that you have heard something fantastic– but here I had to keep mum! It was the same with a film like Dangal or Shah Rukh’s next, Dunki.

In South, there is no culture of a casting director. So this was new for Atlee and for me as well to work with a South director, make them understand why me. I had worked with Sandeep Reddy Vanga in Kabir Singh as well, which was also a new experience for me. So, the process takes time, for them to understand us and for us to understand them. That was very interesting, but once the tuning got set then we (Atlee and I) would be charged up for every meeting.

What were the conversations like with Atlee? What was the brief for casting?

Jawan is a big film, so we had to also capture the pan-India feel. I thought let’s mix the casting with slightly known faces and add some new ones. Out of the six girls, Priyamani is known in Bollywood as well as South, Girija Oak is known in Marathi and Hindi cinema, Sanya Malhotra is a popular Bollywood actor, and then I found three new girls in Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureishi. There also had to be a surprise element, which was Sunil Grover. People have seen him do only funny characters, but him turning a villain and beating Nayanthara. We had a discussion that we want someone who no one can doubt to turn around and become negative in the end. A lot of discussion also went in to decide who should be cast for the kids, how the younger Shah Rukh (the child) should be like, how should Vijay Sethupathi’s brother be like, to have a balance between a commercial actor and a realistic actor.

How many actors did you cast in Jawan?

In total, including small and big parts, it would be around 165 actors. But I am used to it since Gangs of Wasseypur days. I had done casting for 200 people in Dangal, big numbers in Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter and Dunki as well. So this feels normal to me. When I have to create an entire atmosphere, I get a kick. It feels thrilling and not something mammoth.

How much time did it take for the casting?

More than a year. We had to find new people, and get everyone on board on given dates. We had to block them for more than 100 days so the coordination also takes a lot of time. All big films take time, again I mention the example of Dangal and Dunki, or PK and Sanju. Your work can’t be done within three months.

Which was the toughest casting to crack?

The three new girls! There had to be a fresh approach, a lot of thought went into it. Like for example, Ashlesha Thakur, who plays Vijay Sethupathi’s daughter and is in the metro sequence.

She was also in The Family Man, where Priyamani was her mother. Was that deliberate?

Honestly, yes! I don’t know how many people will get it. By now, of course Ashlesha has aged and we thought this pairing of her and Priyamani people have seen, so let’s play with it! A lot of thinking goes into it, which is why there is a lot handwork, irrespective of whether people notice the nuggets or not. I go mad about casting, I love every little detail of it.

 

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What about your own role in Jawan? Was it decided from the start?

It wasn’t! This idea is entirely of Atlee and Shah Rukh sir. I was meeting them almost everyday for casting and Shah Rukh sir was like, ‘Let’s take him, he used to do dramas before.’ I was like, ‘Please don’t pull my leg!’ But they were very serious. I don’t think I can act, but people have told me that it is a fun role. I work so hard on casting but I think I am getting more love for my acting and that too which is just one scene!

But I did do it with a lot of love and stress! See it is a big scene in a big film, you have to work hard. That scene has action, there are blasts happening, there are vehicles, movements, so you have to focus and give your 100 percent, because you don’t want to make any mistakes. To re-do a scene would mean wasting a lot of time and resources. So the full credit goes to Atlee and Shah Rukh sir.

But how was it to share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan? You have done casting for his films– but never acted before.

When you meet him, he gives you so much love that you can never feel awkward. I have worked with every star, every actor but Shah Rukh sir makes you feel so comfortable, in life and even on sets, so there is no ‘fear’. We both are also from Delhi, so there is also that connect. If I didn’t know him, may be then performing the scene with him would have been different, but we know each other. As an actor when you are working with him, you realise he is so focused, so charming that you hope you don’t forget your lines! But thank God that didn’t happen.

How was he as a producer when it came to casting?

He never interfered in that. Gauravv Verma (Producer, Red Chillies), he is very much in-sync with Atlee and Shah Rukh sir. It never felt like there was any ‘restriction’ to do anything. If the department had to travel to cast someone, there was never any question. So there was complete freedom. That’s the biggest support.

Can you talk about the casting of the actor who played the farmer? Was he in Peepli Live?

Yes he was, Omkar Das! I wanted someone whose face would look like that of a behcara but not a loser. I wanted someone who could portray the helpless father very well. I had actually worked with him in an ad for KBC, which Nitesh Tiwari had directed. While I was casting the ad, I was like, ‘Let’s keep Omkar for Jawan.’ Your mind works on multiple projects when you are casting, so during the audition I knew he would be perfect. Similarly, while casting for Asur I thought of Riddhi Dogra!

Omkar is a phenomenal actor, who perhaps hasn’t been utilised too well. Jawan will change things for him. He was so good in Peepli Live too, but for so many years the guy was sitting at home with no film work. He is a very shy actor, doesn’t ask for work but I told him come let’s work together. Almost six-seven people have already taken his number from me after seeing Jawan! That’s the beauty of casting, it isn’t really to cast for big roles, the joy is always to unearth new, rarely seen talents even if it is for smaller roles. To make those memorable with your casting choices. I enjoy doing this and you will have many more surprises in Dunki as well.