Casting Director Panchami Ghavri On Casting Coup In Karmma Calling, Challenges In Selecting Actors- EXCLUSIVE

In the realm of cinema, the fusion of narrative complexity and stellar performances elevates storytelling to new heights. "Karmma Calling" stands as a testament to this synergy, praised for its intricate plot twists and compelling character portrayals. To delve deeper into the alchemy behind the scenes, Filmibeat sat down with Panchami Ghavri, the astute casting director whose discerning eye shapes the on-screen personas.

"Karmma Calling" has been praised for its intricate plot twists. How did you ensure that the selected cast members could effectively convey the complexities of the storyline through their performances?

Karmma calling was a very exciting process for us, firstly because it's an ensemble cast, like Raveena Tandon, Rohit Roy, Viraf Patel and others. We wanted to put together not just a good-looking cast but also stellar performers- like Dash and Rachit who come from the Alibaug gang and an affluent background, Karmma is shrouded in mystery. Namrata(Karmma) did many rehearsals and we loved styling her look, her eyes are very expressive, and she can carry the stoic look very well. Gaurav Sharma was an interesting casting because he is paired with Raveena ji, so we needed someone with the same charm and talent as Raveena ji, this was crucial because the story has a lot of characters who take the story forward and having a good actor helps bring the character alive from paper to screen.

Varun Sood's character, Ahaan, is depicted as a privileged boy seeking love. How did you navigate the casting process to find an actor who could authentically portray the complexities of Ahaan's character, and what drew you to Varun Sood for this particular role?

Everyone loves Varun Sood, he is just so natural on screen. We had so many rehearsals and test looks with him because we wanted people to root for his character. His character although coming from a rich and privileged background, he is still very innocent which makes him a very lovable character. Instantly from the first test we loved him, and he set the bar for us for the character of 'Ahaan', and there was no turning back for us.

Namrata Seth's character, is highlighted as a crucial casting in "Karmma Calling." Can you discuss the casting process for this character and what qualities you were specifically looking for in the actor who would bring Namrata's character to life?

Namrata's character is the most important in the story as she plays the titular character. While we already had Raveena ji's character locked, we searched long and hard for our Karmma. But, funny story the first time I met Ruchi(the director) and showed her a picture of Namrata, we quickly realised she had the perfect look to play Karmma. She is pretty, she is mysterious and she is very innocent but there is just something about her that you can't figure out or put your finger on, and that's exactly how we wanted our Karmma to be and Namrata brings it out brilliantly. There is relatibilty to her personality and something that the audience can connect with. There were multiple screen tests and readings, it was a long and tedious process but in the end, we found our Karmma.

The chemistry between Varun Sood's character, Ahaan, and Namrata Seth's character, is central to the storyline of "Karmma Calling." Can you elaborate on the casting process for these roles and how you ensured that Varun and Namrata had the on-screen chemistry necessary to bring their characters' relationship to life?

We did multiple rounds of tests and readings with both Namrata and Varun separately and then we got them together and it turned out they had already crossed paths with each other and that helped immensely. There was instant camaraderie and comfort and that's what played out on the screen as well. Both of them worked very hard and did so many workshops to accurately depict their characters.

What do you think about Varun Sood and Namrata Seth's on-screen chemistry?

They have a very held-back chemistry, it's a very 'slow-burn" kind of romance. It just doesn't start with fire or fireworks, it builds on over time and there is a very deep, emotional angle to it, so it is a very natural, organic kind of chemistry, which is being loved by the audience too.

"Gehraiyaan" is known for its intense and emotional narrative. How did you approach casting for a series that explores deep, complex emotions, and what were the key factors you considered when selecting the cast?

Gehraiyaan was a very different and interesting narrative, we kept in mind that the actors understood the kind of film we were making. When we were casting for the leads, Dhairya was selected after various auditions and screen tests, but because the nature of the film was intense and thriller, we had to keep a lot of things under wrap, but we ensured the actors involved understood the world and tonality of the film, the story through and through, without giving away the suspense. Rajat Kapoor, having worked with him previously on Kapoor & Sons, did a phenomenal job as always. We always wanted him to be a part of the film, in one way or another. Even with Naseer Sahab, we had worked very closely with Ratna Ma'am on Kapoor & sons, so we just went for it and approached him. The final scene with Alisha(Deepika Padukone) and her father was very important and they both gave such brilliant performances. We touched upon deeply emotional and intense subjects like anxiety, and depression, which required careful and empathetic handling, Shakun Batra(the director)wanted to keep it as authentic as possible and I think we were able to translate it beautifully on screen.

"Class" delved into the lives of students from different socio-economic backgrounds. Can you discuss the challenges and considerations involved in casting actors to authentically portray characters from diverse social settings?

That's a great question. "Class" came to us at a very interesting point in our lives, it came to us during the pandemic-induced lockdown, at the beginning of April 2020, when we all were in our homes and grappling with the new change. Especially for a casting job, it is a very hands-on job where you meet the artists in person and at studios and there are instinctive decisions. I especially love working from the office. For the casting of 'Class', we cast a very wide net and searched in various cities and regions and not just Mumbai. The approach we took for casting was that we made it Pan-India and open to all, no matter whether a fresher or more experienced person, there was no pre-requisite at all. We carefully selected each actor and moulded them into the characters that you see today. A lot of credit goes to Ashim Ahluwalia(the director) who conducted the workshops with each actor and understood the project very well. For us, our biggest challenge was conducting the auditions remotely. The whole cast met each other once everything was finalised which was an unusual setting for us because usually before finalising the roles, the actors go through various screen tests, rehearsals and readings with each other. It all worked out very well for us, all the actors gave a very good performance and I'm really happy and satisfied with the choices we made.

Your casting work in "Kapoor & Sons" received acclaim for its authenticity and the chemistry between the ensemble cast. Can you share insights into your approach to casting such a diverse range of characters within a family dynamic?

Casting for Kapoor & Sons is one of my fondest memories. It was my first experience working with a director(Shakun Batra)who was so collaborative. Shakun really bestowed his faith in me and let us think instinctively, creatively and out of the box, which is not a luxury you always get. We put so much of ourselves into picking the right actor to portray such a beautifully dysfunctional family. Each character has its bits and quirks which makes them so memorable. The plumber in the famous 'plumber scene' came very nicely on screen. We had initially cast another actor for the role, but unfortunately, he couldn't make it, so we called in another guy who is supposed to have a funny broken tooth. We wanted a guy who could crack the timing and indeed he did! The actor(Amarjeet) was so effortless and he went on to do some amazing roles in Mirzapur and other series. We were very honoured when Dharma invited us to a press conference and invited Amarjeet too, it was a huge compliment as he had become such a memorable iconic character. Shakun was just so trusting of us and went with our pick and that's what made the scene what it is today- hilarious and memorable. There are lots of beautiful memories of Kapoor & Sons and it was a wonderful experience.

Prajakta Kohli and Rohit Saraf have garnered praise for their performances as Rishi and Dimple in "Mismatched." Can you share insights into the casting process for these characters and what qualities you saw in Prajakta and Rohit that made them perfect fits for their respective roles?

'Mismatched' also came to us as a clear palette, as in nobody was finalised for any of the roles. We went through a tedious process of auditions and screen tests, readings including that of Dimple(Prajakta Kohli) and Rishi's(Rohit Saraf) roles. I think what worked well for Prajakta was that she had a good experience being on camera, so it was effortless, and she cracked it like that. Fitting like a glove. She was a big personality in the YouTube world, but she was still fresh to the OTT world, so it was an exciting opportunity for her as well. For Rohit, it felt like he was inherently a royal or a "Shekhawat" from Jaipur, he had the perfect polishness, urbanness and charm. He had already worked on big projects like Dear Zindagi and Sky is Pink, so he was very apt at adapting the role of Rishi and he had exactly what we wanted for the character. Both the characters were so opposite to each other but still made for each other, and the actors played it out brilliantly and the rest is history! We are currently shooting for season 3 so it was a massive hit not just in terms of pairing but for everyone involved in the project.

Can you share a bit about your journey into the world of casting? What initially sparked your interest in this field, and how did you navigate your way into becoming a casting director?

I just kind of stumbled into it. I was assisting Nandini Srikind on Wake Up Sid and then casting sort of just happened for me. To be honest, I was instinctive about it. I felt like this was something I could do independently and on my own, and I could do it well. And so I just sort of followed my instinct. I went abroad and studied in New York. I came back and then I just decided that I wanted to carve my path. And that's how casting happened for me.

As a casting director, you play a crucial role in bringing characters to life on screen. What do you find most rewarding about your job, and what challenges do you typically face during the casting process?
I think the most rewarding part of my job is that I get to make so many dreams come true. I think when me and my team read something on paper and then we finally go and see the product, it's an amazing feeling. For instance, when 'Class' came out, the feeling that we had, we were feeling so proud to have been, put in this work for people to see it, for people to appreciate it. So I think that and we got so much appreciation for the cast. I think challenges are usually when stressful moments happen, so usually when we are racing against time or the shoot is too close and we haven't been able to crack some casting. I think I generally take on stress very easily and my standards of delivery of myself are very high. Those can sometimes become very challenging and of course, they take a little bit of a toll on my personal life.

As a casting director, what do you believe sets apart a good actor from a great one?

I think what sets apart a good actor from a great one is the fact that the great ones never stop-never stop learning and growing. For instance, even today when you meet certain actors, they are like Rajkumar Rao. I just worked with him on "Mr. & Mrs. Mahi." He's just like that; he has so many notes on his script, and the journey of learning has never really stopped. And I think that, you know, the minute you become too big for your shoes or you become bigger than the craft, then you're no longer learning or growing. So I think that's where greatness comes from. Till today, I've heard that Amitabh Bachchan is still extremely punctual when he comes to set, and he preps a lot. And I think that's what makes him so great.

In your opinion, how important is it for actors to have formal training or education in acting, versus natural talent and raw potential?

I am completely a big and firm believer in formal training and education in acting. I think very, very rarely do you find that kind of raw potential and even that kind of raw potential needs training. Like in any other, that you would want to do, you would have to get formal training, it's the same in acting. I think that everybody who wants to become an actor needs to train how to act and needs to be on top of watching a lot of content and seeing what their contemporaries are doing, it is a very important part of the profession.

How do you stay updated with emerging talent in the industry, and what factors do you consider when deciding to take a chance on a newcomer?

I watch a lot of content. Anything and everything. Also, social media platforms can sometimes be a way for us to source talent, but social media platforms unfortunately will not tell you if an actor is good or not. I think, again, the factor that you would consider deciding to take a chance on a newcomer is very instinctive and it depends on the time that they walk into the office, how hardworking they are, how passionate they are, how many times they're willing to redo the scene if required. I think your attitude also takes you a long way. I think that people want to bet on people who are ready to put in the work and give that 100% if they're going to be mounting a series or a film on them. So, from the time that you walk into a casting office, every single thing that you do matters to someone deciding if they should take a chance on you casting out.

Casting couch allegations have long plagued the industry. Have you ever encountered instances where actors or actresses attempted to leverage their personal relationships with you to secure roles? How do you handle such situations while maintaining professionalism?

Honestly, I'm a girl boss, so it doesn't happen to me. I've heard of stories where people have felt uncomfortable or been made to feel uncomfortable, but it's not happened in and around me. Actors are of course trying to build relationships, so they may ask me to meet me or catch up over lunch, but I don't think that's anything other than just trying to build a rapport. But apart from that, me and my team have never encountered any uncomfortable situation or an attempt to leverage their relationships.

The chemistry between actors is crucial for on-screen success but sometimes sparks fly off-screen as well. Can you share any instances where you noticed undeniable chemistry between co-stars during auditions or rehearsals?

I mean, not, when many times people share test screens, we are very sharp with noticing all subtle cues, and most of the time an actor trying to help out another fellow actor. I think "off-screen" chemistry is very normal, and it happens in all fields of life. When you work so closely with someone, people tend to get attached and sometimes it blossoms into romance and that is something that's been in the industry for many years.