Shruti Mahajan: '90s actresses do not look at themselves as just heroines now'

For casting director Shruti Mahajan cinema was never meant to be a career Growing up in a conventional middleclass household films were seen purely as entertainment ldquoThe only world that we understood was engineering MBA Those were the career choices one made during those daysrdquo she recalls while talking to midday Mahajan followed that expected path and completed an MBA in human resources But somewhere along the way she realised the corporate structure was not where she belonged ldquoI knew at some point of time that Im not made to do a 95 job It doesnt make me happy And my true calling is cinema theatre watching movies people managementrdquoAn oustider who became one of the most successful casting directorHer journey began as a casting assistant at Yash Raj Films in 2012 mdash an experience she describes as an education in filmmakingldquoIn that one year I never went to a film school It became a film school for me I was on the job I was learning on the jobrdquoWithin months she knew she had found her calling ldquoIn a months time it made me happy It made me breathe It made me feel alive That one month felt like Ive lived a lifetimerdquoAfter completing a year at the studio Mahajan took the leap into independent casting A few advertising assignments soon followed before an unexpected call changed everythingldquoI got a call from Sanjay Leela Bhansalirsquos office They were looking for a new casting director and rest is historyrdquo Today she is known for her work in films like Gangubai Kathiawadi Rustom Sarfira Ground Zero Bombay Begums Padmaavat Bajirao Mastani and many moreGiving characters their lsquosoulrsquoFor Mahajan casting is not simply about selecting actors It is about translating a script into something emotionally real ldquoMy goal is to always be authentic Whether it is authentic to the script And to be able to bridge the gap between a directors vision and the realityrdquo she saysEvery role she believes must carry emotional depth ldquoAs a casting director every character should have a soul and an emotional connect I also cast from an audience point of view what will make me enjoy watching thisrdquoWhen instinct meets uncertaintyCasting Mahajan says is like the HR department of the movie business where getting the right person for the role sets the tone of the film But she is also finds it to be one of the most unpredictable aspects of filmmaking ldquoThe only certainty about casting or filmmaking is uncertainty Plan B is equally important for any technicianrdquoWhile the right actor may seem obvious on paper realworld factors can change everything chemistry between performers schedules budgets and timing ldquoEven after clearing all this if your timing is not correct then you have to move to Plan BrdquoUnlike corporate hiring casting has no fixed formula ldquoThere is nothing by the book in this This is my resume this is my work experience and I am deserving there is nothing like deserving in casting You have to show up You have to deliver each day And you have to be honest with your craftrdquoBreaking stereotypes on screenAs the industry evolves Mahajan believes storytelling is becoming more mindful particularly when it comes to female characters ldquoEarlier when women were cast they would only sing dance do item numbers or run around the trees But now there are stories that are being created only for womenrdquoShe credits audiences for driving that change ldquoTheir appetite and exposure has gotten so much better that they do not want the runofthemill The audience has become very smartrdquoMahajan also points to a shift in how established actresses approach their careers today ldquoNow they are not looking at themselves as just heroines They take themselves as actresses As actorsrdquoShe compares the change to Hollywood where performers prioritise compelling roles over traditional star images ldquoWhen you see a Meryl Streep every time she comes out with a subject or a movie you dont see Meryl Streep you see the characterrdquoThat openness she believes is encouraging filmmakers to experiment ldquoCasting has changed Storytelling has changed Its giving us opportunities to experiment and think out of the boxrdquoDoes social media followers matter for casting directorsMahajan believes that in todayrsquos industry talent ultimately outweighs visibility ldquoNot anymore Talent matters and how honest you are to your craft and how passionate you arerdquo she says adding that while social media popularity might sometimes open doors it cannot sustain a career ldquoEven if you might get a role because of some social media presence or following you cant sustain for too long To be in the game and to get longevity you have to have talent There is no shortcutrdquoMahajan emphasises that audiences today are far more discerning ldquoYou cant fool the audience anymore They are very smart They know what they wantrdquoHer advice to aspiring actors is simple ldquoFocus on your craft Invest in your craft more important is to get your inner depthrdquo She also stresses originality and resilience noting that the journey can be difficult and solitary making a strong support system and mental wellbeing crucial