The sequel to the Emmy-nominated Lust Stories is here, and it does not let you down. People are chatting about director R Balki’s segment, “Made for Each Other,” which stars Neena Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, and Angad Bedi. Who would have imagined Neena Gupta would be so well-known as the hippest grandmother ever? I must thank Shruti Mahajan, the casting director, for bringing Neena on board.
We have a rapport that you develop over time, Shruti said in an interview with Hindustan Times. Shruti has been working as a freelance casting director with R Balki for quite some time. R Balki has a unique way of thinking. He doesn’t want standard casting, and I can try many different things.
Shruti recalls that because he had permitted her to join, R Balki had not provided her with any information regarding Lust Stories 2. “Neena ji’s name was mentioned during one of our sessions. The first name was this. Balki was present. In real life, she is charming, spunky, unconventional, and quirky, but we wanted someone to play the role of a mother. Nina Ji was entirely correct. Only she, according to Shri Balki, could render these lines. He customized the dialogue so that it seemed to be written specifically for him.
The initial selection for Lust Stories 2 was Neena Gupta. Only she, according to Mr. Balki, could perform those lines. He customized the dialogue so that it seemed to be written specifically for him.
Neena Gupta once complained that she didn’t get enough leading roles. She continued by saying that she declined most of the stereotypical and maternal roles that were offered to her. He was playing a character who was much older than his actual age, which pleased the audience. Neena had no trouble portraying a grandmother, according to Shruti.
Neena Ji is portraying significant roles, but they are all clearly focused ones. He has a dedicated following. She is skilled at what she does. She makes her own decisions. When Balki approached her, she was giddy with excitement. The goal was to create a character that represented urban India. There are many things today, modern yet grounded.
Being related to Lust Stories is not the issue. It’s possible that people are uncomfortable discussing sex. there is a distinction.
Despite Shruti’s claim that the casting for Lust Stories 2 was organic, some users on social media expressed disinterest in R Balki’s narrative. It’s not about being relatable, the casting director said. They might not feel at ease discussing it (sex). there is a distinction. Our minds are trained not to want to accept things as we are growing up in society. We are aware of its existence but avoid discussing it. As a result of the appropriate exposure, the younger generation has accepted it. In contrast to the previous ones, this one is acceptable for us to discuss.
Along with the success of Niyat, Vidya Balan’s most recent film, Shruti is also benefiting from the success of Lust Stories 2. He disclosed that the entire casting process took place during the pandemic over a Zoom call. Later, the incident happened in London. “Vidya and Anu had collaborated on Shakuntala Devi. He had already thought of Vidya. I performed the rest of the cast. Knives Out and Niyat have frequently been compared, but according to Shruti, “These comparisons happen because it’s a similar world.”
The highly anticipated Heeramandi film by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is Shruti’s upcoming endeavor. Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, and Richa Chadha all appear in the ensemble piece as previously unseen avatars.
Shruti and Bhansali first worked together on Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela (2013). “All of his films have strong female characters,” he said of Hiramandi. They were witty and well-written.
Beautiful women and the dynamic change they are bringing about in the world they live in are the subjects of Heeramandi. It is a historical drama. For this, we needed very strong women.
In a similar vein, Heeramandi is about stunning women and the dynamic change they experience in their environment. It is a historical drama. They should all belong to the world, according to the instructions I was given. They must possess classic beauty. They must appear the part. He must possess both strength and charisma. The characters are all powerful. We desired powerful women.
So, in terms of casting, did Bhansali have any preferences? “No, it takes time. The names are mentioned as we jam together while sitting down. The casting wizard joked that he couldn’t say much at the moment because of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Currently, Shruti’s account contains about 60 projects. When asked how her journey began, she said, “I got my campus placement and was working in corporate back around 13 or 14 years ago. But becoming a filmmaker has always been my dream. I left my job and went to the YRF office to apply for the Casting Director position. While earning my MBA in Human Resources (HR), I discovered that there is a process called casting where the right actors are found for the right movies. Everything I learned while working at YRF. I didn’t attend any film schools.
“Being a female casting director is lovely because you have soft skills and empathy. I also benefited from my educational background, she added. Despite the stigma that people still associate with the position of casting director, Shruti stated, “It is a very organized department, people think casting directors only deal with couches. But you need to locate the appropriate individuals. Avoid making the wrong decisions. People are working hard. Recently, someone has been calling people under my name and demanding my bank information. I posted about it right away on social media. These things are numerous. Salman Khan recently issued a warning about phony casting calls that use his name.