A film can have exotic locales, a great storyline, and a gripping direction. Still, failure is inevitable if the actors chosen are unable to deliver what the role requires. Like, is there even a possibility of imagining Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara without Naseeruddin Shah? Or DDLJ without Shah Rukh Khan??
Considering how it's difficult to please a woke generation, netizens jump on the activism bandwagon at the first chance they get to boycott a film if the casting is a problem.?
We have seen casting debacles in recent times, which became a topic of heated discussions and debates on social media. Read on!??
Ever since the first look of Gangubai was released, people on the internet started wondering why someone like Tabu or Vidya Balan wasn't cast for the role. Reacting to Alia as Gabgubai, people wrote:
In one of the interviews, Alia Bhatt clarified that the movie showcases Gangubai's journey from the 20s to 30s. However, it still came across as an unconvincing answer for people looking forward to this SLB movie.?
Casting actors for the biopic is not one of Bollywood's strongest suits. When Anushka Sharma and her production house unveiled the trailer of 'Chakda Express,' many jumped and started trolling Anushka for her fake Bengali accent.
People pointed out how it was inappropriate to wear makeup to get the same skin color as Jhulan, as the team could have easily cast an actor like Konkona to resemble the cricket hero.?
The trailer of Gangubai triggered a debate among cinema fans. Without questioning Vijay Raaz's potential as an actor, fans asked why a cis-gender person again nabbed a transperson's role.?
¡°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,¡± a person wrote in a tweet.?
The conversation moved to Reddit, where fans debated whether Vijay was the right choice.?
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui was an important film, but it did trigger a healthy debate around the casting of transgender actors for trans roles.?Vaani Kapoor as a trans girl in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui was a good step by Abhishek Kapoor to tell an important story, but somehow, people wondered why a trans artist couldn't get a chance.?
Abhishek Kapoor defended his casting tactics for the film by saying,?¡°We went through many avenues, and there was a thought about casting a trans person, but you know I find everyone is so fascinated just by actors. Why is it that an actor legitimizes everything? Why can¡¯t a trans person write the film? Why can¡¯t a trans person direct the film? First of all, this fascination is incorrect. Actors do not make films; filmmakers and writers make them."
It took Priyanka Chopra many years to finally admit, ¡®I look nothing like her.¡¯?In 2014, At the time of its release, Mary Kom was at the center of controversy for its casting choice.?
Cinema fans pointed out that casting Priyanka instead of an actor from the northeast was ¡®racist.¡¯
Fans jumped with joy when the spin-off of Bob Biswas, a popular and unforgettable character from Vidya Balan's Kahaani, was announced. The makers had to bear the brunt of replacing Saswata Chatterjee and casting Abhishek Bachchan for the titular role.
Fans also pointed out how a talented Bengali actor had to lose an incredible opportunity only because the team wanted a bigger star for the film.?
Fans were not convinced that the makers chose Bhumi and used extensive makeup to make her look darker. Calling out makers for hypocrisy and not casting an actor who could have had a skin tone similar to what was required, people wrote:
Neena Gupta revealed that the director wanted to cast her in the movie, but the financers wanted young actors to play the role of?Chando and Prakashi Tomar. Earlier, she also sparked a debate on ageism and addressed the issue of casting older women.?
The trailer of Super 30 didn't go down too well amongst people.?The makers were criticized for Hrithik's unrealistic and de-glam look and the extra brown/black make-up on his face. Fans started asking why a person from Bihar or a refined actor like Pankaj Tripathi didn't make the cut.?
Besides a lousy plot, cinema fans?felt the movie was disrespectful towards the transgender community. They also labeled the plot and characters as Hinduphobic.
The film's release definitely clarified all doubts people had in their minds, but still, fans have time and again pointed out how male actors have a longer shelf life than female actors. In contrast, actors in their 50s are still seen as main leads and 'heroes,' female actresses that age get 'Bua-Chachi-Mummy' roles.?
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