While Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Thackeray released on Friday, casting director Rohan Mapuskar revealed in an interview with a leading daily that his first choice for the role of the Shiv Sena Supremo in the biopic on Bal Thackeray was Irrfan. Thackeray, directed by Abhijit Panse and produced by Sanjay Raut, casts Nawazuddin in the titular role.
"Director Abhijit Panse, Sanjay Raut and I were brainstorming on who we'd like to cast and were contemplating (roping in) Irrfan. We had (superimposed) his image to see if it matched that of Mr Thackeray, and were convinced," Rohan told the daily.
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File photo of Irrfan[/caption]
However, Rohan revealed that he had to settle for another actor for Thackeray since Irrfan wasn’t available as he was occupied with another project. "Irrfan, who was busy with another film, said he could only consider it after two to three months,” Rohan added.
During his interview, Rohan also said that following his discussion with Sanjay Raut, they were convinced that Nawazuddin would be capable of portraying certain scenes in a better manner as compared to Irrfan.
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Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Thackeray[/caption]
"He (Sanjay Raut) told us that during certain pandals (rallies), Mr Thackeray would be seated with the karyakartas on the floor. Following a subsequent discussion, we felt that Nawaz would be a better choice for the depiction of such scenes when compared to Irrfan. Zeroing in on him was a consensual decision,” Rohan added.
The film casts Amrita Rao as Bal Thackeray’s wife Meenatai Thackeray while Rohan also revealed that their “first choice" for her role was Rasika Dugal. Rohan, however, chose Amrita for the role considering the fact that Rasika played Nawazuddin’s wife in Manto.
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Rasika Dugal photographed in Mumbai[/caption]
"We had arrived a day prior than scheduled to meet Amrita for the film, despite which she re-organised her meetings to talk to us, instead of (turning us away). This act reminded me of how maasaheb (Meenatai) would treat her workers, ensuring that she fed them, no matter when they arrived to meet her,” Rohan added.
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Amrita Rao as Meenatai Thackeray[/caption]
The biopic narrates Bal Thackeray’s journey and his political career as he established Shiv Sena – a Hindu right-wing Marathi ethnocentric party. Bal Thackeray was immensely popular amongst his followers, particularly in Maharashtra as he espoused the rights of the Marathas in his state.
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