Casting director Sanjay Shukla who has brought finest actor for TV serials Meri Durga, Kundali Bhagya, Alladin and many more along with Alt Balaji web series and films. In the candid conversation with GlamGold, the singer-actor turned casting director ‘Panditji’ shares his journey from being a newcomer to making his mark in the industry.
— Vipul K. Shah
GG) As a singer did you take any training?
SS) No. I used to participate in many programs while in school and college. I always got appreciation from the audience, so I thought I’d try my luck in the field. In 2010, I came to Mumbai to participate in a singing reality show. I tried for more than a year but faced nothing but rejections.
GG) Then?
SS) (laughs) I started auditioning as an actor. After struggling for a few months, I got my break in the serial ‘Maharana Pratap’. Then I did ‘Samrat Ashok’, ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ and more. After a certain point, I was not getting work.
GG) So did you think going back to Prayagraj?
SS) Not at all. I am a fighter, giving up doesn’t come easy to me. I got a job opportunity at Hats Off Production as an intern casting director, where I learned in and out of the work. The journey went on to many production houses for TV and finally for big screen. Mumbai is the city of dreams which will never let you down if you have it in you to give it back.
GG) Which genre is tough to cast?
SS) Without any doubt it’s biopics. When you cast for a biopic, it takes lots of hard work because the main leads as well as all the other characters, which are real in life, have to be cast perfectly in all the manners – whether it’s dialogue delivery or even their walk for that matter.
GG) If an actor quits a show, how do you manage it?
SS) We have only one option left then, which is to call the rejected actors who had initially auditioned for the lead and were short listed. See when you are casting for a lead, hundreds of actor give audition. Out of the lot, few are short listed and only one is finalized. So we know for a fact that the remaining actors also suit the role of the lead.
GG) What difference have you realized while working for films, TV and digital platforms?
SS) (takes a pause) To be honest, the crème de la crème actors are not entertained in the TV industry. The small screen primarily wants good looking actor who can fetch audience and keep them hooked. On the contrary, in the film industry, looks don’t matter much, your craft does.
GG) As you correctly said, Mumbai is the city of dreams. What impact has it left on you?
SS) This is city has given me a lot. When I came here a decade ago, I was alone, I did not know anybody, and had no knowledge whom to meet. Now I know the immense impact it has on my life, in a positive manner though. Neither Mumbai nor the glamour industry has had any negative impact on me like drinking, smoking or for the matter of fact, smoking up. I never go to late night parties. I have inculcated a habit to wake up early in the morning and start the day with my work.
GG) What’s next for you?
SS) I recently casted for the film ‘Welcome To Bajrangpur’, produced by Anjum Rizvi and Ashish Kumar Dubey. Ashish is also the director of the film. The film stars Sanjay Mishra, Shreyas Talpade and Giorgia Andriani. The shoot has started now.I have some more projects in the pipeline, which I’ll talk about when the time is right.
