Director Hansal Mehta is currently enjoying the triumph of his recent web series Scoop. During an interview, Mehta reminisced about the challenges he faced while creating his film Shahid in 2012. At that time, the producers expressed hesitation in casting Rajkummar Rao as the protagonist. However, Mehta remained steadfast in his belief that Rao was the perfect fit for the role, and he successfully persuaded the producers to ultimately select Rao as the lead actor.
The film Shahid, which depicted the life of the late lawyer and human rights advocate Shahid Azmi, who was tragically assassinated in 2010, brought accolades to Rajkummar Rao and director Hansal Mehta. Both of them were honored with National Awards for their exceptional performances, with Rao receiving Best Actor and Mehta receiving Best Director. However, Mehta recently revealed that the film’s producers initially harbored doubts about casting Rajkummar in the pivotal role.
During an interview, Hansal Mehta expressed the profound impact that Shahid Azmi’s story had on his life, igniting a resurgence within him. Rajkummar Rao, in turn, became Mehta’s source of inspiration in reclaiming his creative voice. Mehta shared that the script for Shahid was circulated among numerous established actors, but faced obstacles as they either declined to collaborate or wished to alter the essence of Shahid’s character and the narrative entirely. Mehta took a firm stance, asserting that the film would proceed only as he envisioned it, refusing to compromise.
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Anurag Kashyap Played Significant Role In Casting Of Rajkummar Rao
During the casting process, Mukesh Chabbra and Anurag Kashyap played a significant role by recommending Rajkummar Rao to me. Despite their insistence, I initially hesitated to meet him, unsure of what value he could bring to the project. Financial constraints further complicated the situation as the producer declined to fund Rajkummar’s involvement. At that time, Rajkummar was relatively new in the industry, with his notable work being Love, Sex Aur Dhokha.
However, they urged me to have a conversation with him, even arranging for him to visit my office. When Rajkummar entered, there was an immediate connection and within just half an hour, I sensed something special. There was an authentic energy, a sincerity, and a deep hunger within him. He expressed his eagerness to prove himself, recognizing the significance of the dream role in Shahid.
Prior to meeting the producer, Hansal Mehta took the initiative of creating a Shahid poster featuring Rajkummar Rao. However, upon seeing the poster, the producer expressed curiosity, asking, “The poster looks good, but who is this guy?” In response, Mehta recommended watching Rajkummar’s upcoming film Ragini MMS, which ultimately convinced the producer of the actor’s exceptional talent.
Following their successful collaboration on Shahid, Hansal Mehta and Rajkummar Rao joined forces for three more projects, namely City Lights, Aligarh, and Omerta. Rajkummar’s most recent appearance was in Anubhav Sinha’s film Bheed. Notably, he was recently honored with the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his remarkable performance in Badhaai ho.
