She Launched Ranveer & Vaani, Gave Ahaan & Aneet 'Saiyaara', But Faced Heat Over Casting Choices

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Shanoo Sharma's first major breakthrough came with Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010 when she spotted an unknown Ranveer Singh and pushed for his casting in a lead role
The name behind the rise of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda is now echoing louder than ever in film circles. With the unexpected success of Saiyaara, a Yash Raj Films production, much of the spotlight has turned to the woman who shaped its cast – casting director Shanoo Sharma. While the two fresh faces of Saiyaara are basking in glory, few know that this isn't the first time Shanoo has introduced stars who went on to become household names. Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and even Arjun Kapoor all owe a piece of their early success to her keen eye for talent.
Shanoo Sharma is not your typical industry insider. She didn't come with a famous last name or an inherited network. Instead, she began in the creative backstreets of Mumbai with theatre circuits, indie spaces, and offbeat gigs. It was her raw understanding of performance and presence that caught the attention of none other than Aditya Chopra, who brought her into Yash Raj Films at a time when the studio was redefining its image for a new generation.
Shanoo's first major breakthrough came with Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010 when she spotted an unknown Ranveer Singh and pushed for his casting in a lead role. The gamble paid off. The film was a hit, and Ranveer became an overnight sensation. That marked the beginning of a streak.
Bhumi Pednekar followed, a casting choice few expected. At the time, Bhumi was working behind the scenes at YRF. But Shanoo saw potential and cast her in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. Similarly, Vaani Kapoor, who made waves with Shuddh Desi Romance, was handpicked and groomed by her.
Even Anushka Sharma, widely seen as Aditya Chopra's discovery in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, had early support from Shanoo during her selection process. While the final decision rested with the director, those in the know credit Shanoo for strongly backing the then-unknown model from Bengaluru.
But her casting process is no walk in the park. Known for her exhaustive audition routines, Shanoo often sits through hundreds of screen tests. She doesn't restrict herself to film families or elite circles. Many of her picks come from outside Mumbai, often from small towns or unconventional backgrounds. Her emphasis is on performance, screen presence, and the elusive X-factor.
Yet, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. For all the stars she's helped rise, Shanoo Sharma had also found herself in the middle of a serious controversy. Following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, her name surfaced on social media and forums like Reddit in discussions around alleged casting biases and the opaque nature of YRF's internal processes.
Accusations of favouritism, 'get-tipping", and discrimination were flung at her, though no formal charges were filed. The Mumbai Police even summoned her during their investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput's case, focusing on contractual issues related to YRF's talent management.
Shanoo stayed away from the spotlight during that phase, but the whispers around her name never quite faded. Some see her as a power-wielder in an industry with few gatekeepers; others argue she's one of the few who has genuinely tried to break the nepotism cycle by introducing fresh talent.
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