Anurag Kashyap’s Involvement in Casting Transgender Actors for Sacred Games:
In an exclusive Pinkvilla interview, Kashyap discussed gender-appropriate casting in films like “Haddi.” He recounted his experience during the casting of “Sacred Games,” specifically for the role of Kukoo. He mentioned, “During Kukoo’s casting, whenever we approached transgender individuals, they declined. This was because, at the time, society was not ready to accept them as they truly were, and they lived in fear. However, in the post-pandemic era, people have become more aware and accepting.” Kashyap also cited examples from “Ghoomer” and “Made In Heaven 2,” which featured transgender actors.
Nevertheless, Kashyap emphasized that casting should not solely focus on representation but also consider performance. He added, “Representation is crucial, but it should not be taken for granted.” In “Sacred Games,” the transgender character Kukoo was portrayed by Kubbra Sait.
Anurag Kashyap reminisces about his initial impression of Nawazuddin Siddiqui:
During the same interview, the director of “Gangs of Wasseypur” shared his first encounter with Nawazuddin. He mentioned, “The first time I met him, I actually didn’t even notice him, honestly. I met him because some friends of mine informed me that there’s an actor who is leaving town, and that was Rajpal Yadav.” Kashyap then cast both Rajpal and Nawaz in minor roles in the film “Shool.” He recalled that he truly noticed Nawazuddin for the first time while collaborating with him on “Black Friday.” He added, “His presence was incredibly powerful. That was the moment I genuinely took notice of him. Since then, it’s been an unstoppable journey.”
“Haddi” is directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma and features Nawazuddin, Anurag, Ila Arun, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saurabh Sachdeva, Sridhar Dubey, Vipin Sharma, and Saharsh Shukla. The film is scheduled to release on ZEE5 on September 7, coinciding with the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s “Jawan.”