Latest news with #Talaash:TheHuntBegins
News18
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Akshay Kumar Wanted To Star With 'Young' Kareena Kapoor So His Own Age Would Look Less: Pahlaj Nihalani
Akshay Kumar insisted on casting Kareena Kapoor in Talaash, says Pahlaj Nihalani, calling it a turning point in Bollywood's actor-driven casting culture. 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." First Published:
Pink Villa
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Why did Akshay Kumar demand Kareena Kapoor's casting opposite him in 2002's Talaash? Pahlaj Nihalani reveals shocking truth
Bollywood films these days, with a younger actress cast opposite an established actor in their 50s or maybe 60s, are becoming quite common. But there was a time when this was not the trend. However, Akshay Kumar broke the norm when he intervened in the casting of his 2003 film, Talaash: The Hunt Begins. In a recent interview, filmmaker and former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani revealed that Khiladi Kumar insisted on casting Kareena Kapoor Khan opposite him so that he could appear young. Pahlaj Nihalani on Akshay Kumar's demand to cast Kareena Kapoor Talking to the Learn From The Legend YouTube channel, he admitted that it wasn't common for actors to interfere in a film's casting, and he wasn't accustomed to such things. He had always seen only producers and directors taking those decisions. Sharing an example, he cited Akshay Kumar's example, who wanted only Kareena Kapoor to be cast opposite him in Talaash: The Hunt Begins. Recalling the incident, Pahlaj narrated that Akshay was the first actor to have interfered in the casting of a film. He came to Pahlaj and assured him that they could begin filming right the next day, and he could give the actor whatever amount he wished, but the condition was just that the actress had to be Bebo. "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." Further explaining why the Hera Pheri 3 star wanted this casting, Nihalani revealed that sometimes, as actors grow older, they want to star opposite a younger actress so that their own age appears less pronounced. He also said that these days, actors decide everything and producers only work as a courier service. Pahlaj Nihalani on growing entourage expenses The veteran filmmaker also shed light on the current hot topic of the growing entourage cost in the industry. He expressed that the current work culture has become bloated with unnecessary demands and vanity. He said, "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 jo che vanity vans mangate hai." (They should be ashamed to ask for 6 vanity vans.) Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more such updates.
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Pahlaj Nihalani says ‘actors want diet food in the morning, drugs at night'; recalls Akshay Kumar forcing Kareena Kapoor's casting: ‘Pay me what you want but…'
Filmmaker and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani recently shared his thoughts on the rising entourage costs of actors and recalled the time when Akshay Kumar interfered in the casting of the 2003 film Talaash: The Hunt Begins, insisting on casting Kareena Kapoor in the lead role. Speaking on the YouTube channel Learn From The Legend, Pahlaj admitted that he wasn't used to actors determining a film's casting, as he had only ever seen producers and directors taking those decisions. However, he said that times have changed, and today's actors often dictate not just the cast but also the choice of directors. He shared an example from his own experience during the making of Talaash, when Akshay insisted on casting Kareena. He said, '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 film 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 shared that Akshay insisted on casting Kareena because he wanted to star opposite a younger actor. '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 shared his disapproval of the growing entourage expenses that have become a hot topic in the Hindi film industry. According to Pahlaj, the current working culture has become bloated with unnecessary demands and vanity. He said, '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 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.'
