'Jab Khuli...': Why Saurabh Shukla cast Pankaj Kapur, Dimple Kapadia
What's the story
Saurabh Shukla's latest directorial venture, Jab Khuli Kitaab, is streaming on ZEE5. The film, an adaptation of Shukla's stage play, explores the emotional intricacies and complexities of a long-term marriage. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Shukla revealed that he always had specific actors in mind for certain roles.
Casting insights
Shukla was nervous about approaching Pankaj Kapur
Shukla confessed that he was initially intimidated by the prospect of casting Pankaj Kapur for the role of Gopal. "I kept imagining that he would be busy...or that he might not like the script. You rehearse how you will explain the story to him," he said. But when he finally approached Kapur, things changed. "He simply said, 'Leave it with me, I'll read it.' A few days later, he called with [some] questions, and said he was doing the film."
Surprising response
How he cast Dimple Kapadia
The film also features veteran actor Dimple Kapadia as Anusuya, Gopal's wife. Shukla admitted, "I sent her the script, thinking I might get a polite refusal after a few weeks. But she called me within three days and said she loved the script and wanted to do it." "Having actors like Pankaj ji and Dimple ji, not just incredible performers but also deeply sensitive people, added so much nuance to the film."
Film's depth
Know more about the movie
Jab Khuli Kitaab is produced by Applause Entertainment and Shoestrap Films. The drama follows Gopal (Kapur) and Anusuya (Kapadia), a couple in their 70s. When Gopal discovers a shocking truth about Anusuya, he decides to divorce her, leaving her shaken. The ensemble cast includes Samir Soni, Aparshakti Khurana, Manasi Parekh, and Nauheed Cyrusi.