DYK Badmaash Company Director Nearly Rejected Anushka Sharma?

News18

07-05-2025

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Shahid Kapoor also initially declined the offer as he was working on his father's film.
Badmaash Company, the Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma starrer crime-comedy, completes 15 years today, May 7, 2025. Directed by Parmeet Sethi and produced by Yash Raj Films, the film was a commercial success and received praise from both fans and critics for its engaging storyline and strong performances. However, not many know that director Parmeet Sethi was initially hesitant to cast Anushka in the lead role due to her 'Indianised" image.
In a report by The Indian Express, director Parmeet Sethi opened up about the casting process for Badmaash Company and recalled how Aditya Chopra gave him full freedom. He shared, 'Aditya told me, 'Tujhe kaun chahiye? Tu bas naam le, main usko lekar aaunga' (You just name the actor you want, and I'll bring them on board)."
At the time, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Imran Khan were in high demand. However, Parmeet was interested in Shahid since he believed the actor had a wide range and could easily play both a middle-class boy and someone immensely wealthy, as his film required a similar shift.
'I think Ranbir was working on a film comparable to this at the time, Rocket Singh. So he was out. But my first pick was always Shahid Kapoor. I really hoped he would say yes because he was working on his father's project at the time," said Parmeet. 'Initially, Shahid declined the offer as he was working on his father's film, but later when he read the script, he dropped his father's film to do Badmaash Company."
While Parmeet was happy with Shahid's casting, he was quite sceptical of Anushka. 'Aditya suggested Anushka's name to me. He said, 'She's very good. You only meet her once.' I had seen her in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, so her picture was heavily Indianised in my mind. I wanted someone who looked very modern, was outgoing, and had an attitude. But when I met her, all of my preconceptions were wiped away. She is God-filled and has a very unique spontaneity about herself."
Apart from Shahid and Anushka, the film also featured Vir Das, Meiyang Chang, Anupam Kher and Kiran Juneja in significant roles.
The film is about four young friends from middle-class Mumbai who launch an import business in the 1990s. They first thrive by 'beating the system" through unusual business practices, but their lives change as personal troubles arise. The film depicts their path from a promising company to confronting the obstacles of success and personal struggles.
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