Ajeet Vishwakarma - It Was Not That Easy for Me to Take My Place in Bollywood, but Time Passed and Today I Am Where I Thought (Casting Director from India)

It Was Not That Easy for Me to Take My Place in Bollywood, but Time Passed and Today I Am Where I Thought.

Tell us about your background and journey.

I am from Prayagraj which is located in Uttar Pradesh and just 25 kilometres away from the city is a small lovely market, which people know as Karma Bazaar, and the city I belong to is famous in the whole world by the name Prayagraj Sangam.

My father Shri Mool Chandra Vishwakarma works as an engineer in JP Cement and I also have a big family in which my uncle, elder father and all of them have a family. But out of my entire family, I was the only person who had to come to Bollywood.

It was not that easy for me to take my place in Bollywood, but time passed and today I am where I thought.


Which factors do you consider to determine an actors suitability?

Whenever I work for a film or web series, some special things have to be taken care of very much, one should have basic acting and this is very important for new artists. Whenever I do the casting of a film, I find suitable actors according to the script and then audition.

Can you tell me about your approach to landing leading actors?

It is very easy to work on a big project where the director and production are already known, yes it takes some time in between where actors are busy with their upcoming films and then I go to their management team together we set a time to narrate the story and character sketch and then we settle if the artist likes the story and the team.

What is your biggest pet peeve in the audition room?

When I was casting for a show Code Red (On Colors TV) as an associate casting director with Mr. Dinesh Soi( Casting Director ) and I posted artist requirement on Facebook for a Punjabi Turban look in an episode after many artists came to audition but I met an artist who was non-Punjabi, I told him that I am only auditioning for Punjabi Turban look, but he said sir I am not Punjabi but want to try "I said you are not fit in this episode, I wanted only Punjabi Turban look as per the story required, he said ok Sir. But the next day he came again and that too in Turban and I knew on seeing that this is not Punjabi but must have come in Punjabi Turban look. 

I asked him that he had come yesterday but I had told you what look and language I need in the episode. He said I want work and I went to many places but no one takes auditions that's why I changed the look, maybe I can get some work. 

I would like to tell those artists through this news that wherever you go for an audition, meet the casting director and tell about yourself and if you are fit in look and know basic acting, then you are sure to get work. There are no shortcuts in acting.

Which methods do you deploy to source talent for auditions?

Whenever we start working on a project, there are so many mediums like database, by casting friends, by casting co-ordinators, by Facebook, by email etc. that you can easily get the artist as per requirement.

In your experience, what does one need to know about a casting contract?

In the beginning, I used to work only verbally in many places, but time has been changed now everyone makes a mutual casting contract with terms and conditions, Being a casting contract, what has been decided between the producer and the casting director remains clear.

How can one get in touch with you?

There are many ways to contact me like Facebook, contact number, Instagram, email address, LinkedIn etc.

Interviewed by - Bhavana N