There have been times when the Hindi film industry has gone wrong with its casting choices and the viewers have called them out for that. We have an industry that boasts a diverse pool of talent, and instead of using prosthetics that are borderline racist, or learning accents that don’t sound natural, movies would feel a lot more authentic if the casting is done right.
From Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom to Ayushmann Khurrana in the upcoming Anek, the filmmakers could have made appropriate choices based on the role:
Ayushmann Khurrana in Anek
Ayushamann Khurrana is one of the most talented actors we have in the Hindi film industry. He is known for being a part of films that talks about topics that aren’t discussed openly. Recently, we saw the trailer for his upcoming film Anek. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film revolves around the issues happening in North East of India. Ever since the trailer has been released, people on the internet have been questioning the casting and asking why a north-eastern actor wasn’t selected for the role.
Anushka Sharma in Chakda Xpress
Choosing an actor for a biopic is a difficult task. However, when Anushka Sharma unveiled the trailer of Chakda Xpress, she was trolled by many for her fake Bengali accent. Netizens didn’t approve of her as Jhulan Goswami and criticised the makers for using makeup to change the actor’s skin tone.
Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi
People didn’t approve of Alia Bhatt as Gangubai Kathiawadi and felt that someone like Tabu or Vidya Balan would have been a better choice. That, however, changed after the film was released when people realised how good was Alia Bhatt.
Vijay Raaz in Gangubai Kathiawadi
If you remember, Gangubai Kathiawadi’s trailer triggered a debate and it was about Vijay Raaz’s character. Without questioning his craft, people on the internet asked why a cisgender person was chosen to play a transperson. A person tweeted, “Can Bollywood stop casting cis/straight people as transsexual characters, please? It’s 2022 already, and I am pretty sure that there is enough talent in this country where an actual transsexual can portray a transsexual character.”
Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom
In an interview, Priyanka Chopra admitted that she looked nothing like Mary Kom, and this choice of casting was a controversy in 2014. People questioned why an actor from the north-east was not considered for the role.
Abhishek Bachchan in Bob Biswas
Why not Saswata Chatterjee? This was the question that erupted on social media when Bob Biswas was announced with Abhishek Bachchan in the lead. Bob Biswas is a popular and unforgettable character in Vidya Balan’s film Kahaani. Fans were upset about how a talented Bengali actor had to lose out an incredible opportunity only because the team wanted a bigger star for the film.
Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar in Saand Ki Aankh
Not just the netizens but veteran actors like Neena Gupta and Soni Razdaan questioned the casting choices for Saand Ki Aankh. In an interview, Neena Gupta spoke about how the director wanted to cast her in the movie, but the financers wanted young actors to play the role of Chando and Prakashi Tomar.
Do you have any other names that come to mind? Let us know.
