Akshay Kumar Wanted To Star With 'Young' Kareena Kapoor So His Own Age Would Look Less: Pahlaj Nihalani
Former CBFC chief and filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani recently opened up about the changing dynamics of Bollywood casting and rising entourage costs. Speaking on the YouTube channel Learn From The Legend, he recalled a moment during the making of the 2003 film Talaash: The Hunt Begins, when Akshay Kumar insisted that Kareena Kapoor be cast as the female lead.
Nihalani explained how casting decisions used to be strictly the domain of producers and directors, with actors rarely getting involved. 'Earlier, producers and directors used to cast and heroes wouldn't interfere in casting. The first actor to interfere in casting with me was Akshay Kumar in Talash in 2002. He told me that 'we can start the movie tomorrow, and you can give me any amount that you want, but the heroine of this film will be Kareena Kapoor.' It was one of the most costly films of that time, it was made in Rs 22 crore. This was the first time in my career that an actor had demanded a certain cast."
Pahlaj added that Akshay's motivation was partly about image. 'Sometimes, as the actors grow old they want to star against younger actresses so that their own age looks less. That was the first time I heard that, but these days actors decide everything and producers work as a courier service."
The veteran filmmaker also slammed the ballooning costs caused by actors' entourages. 'Where one person was working now 10 people are employed. Earlier, there used to be one vanity van, but now actors demand six vanity vans — one for exercising, one for the kitchen, one for meetings. Sharam ani chahiye un actors ko ko che vanity vans mangate hai (Actors feel ashamed for asking for 6 vanity vans). Earlier, only makeup man used to go with actors, now they demand a separate hairdresser and a person just to hold their mirror. They give Rs 1.5 lakh bills for nothing. Earlier they used to bring home-cooked food, but now they want diet food. They want drugs at night and diet food in the morning."
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