Mukesh Chhabra, one of Bollywood's busiest casting directors, has completed casting for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana (2026) after discovering actors including Sanya Malhotra, Vicky Kaushal, Mrunal Thakur, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and Sushant Singh Rajput across his career spanning over 300 films, 100 web series, and 500 advertisements.
In an interview with Lalita Iyer, Chhabra explains his casting process can take up to two years, requiring him to understand each director's vision completely. "You have to stop thinking like yourself and start thinking like them," he explains, describing the challenge of working with filmmakers including Raj Kumar Hirani, Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali, and Anurag Kashyap who all approach films differently.
Gangs of Wasseypur, Dangal, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and web series like Delhi Crime, Black Warrant, and Scam 1992 are among his notable ensembles. For Dangal alone, he auditioned over 12,000 children across 18 months, with Aamir Khan personally auditioning every shortlisted candidate.
Chhabra emphasises mental fitness for actors, noting Mumbai's challenges create emotional and financial pressures that can derail careers. He discovers talent in unconventional places - finding the Chillar Party actor at a traffic light and Bajrangi Bhaijaan's Munni at a Gurgaon mall. OTT platforms have transformed casting, creating opportunities for actors like Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma, and Pankaj Tripathi who might not have succeeded in traditional cinema.
