Dhurandhar, Dangal to Bajrangi Bhajiaan: TOP 7 Cinematic Gems of Casting Director Mukesh Chhabra – Birthday Special!

When it comes to casting directors in Indian cinema, Mukesh Chhabra has easily established himself as the Dhurandhar of the niche! More than bringing precision to the film with apt casting, Chhabra’s keen eye for an actor’s acting skills makes every frame come alive. On his birthday today, here’s looking at top 7 blockbusters that witnessed his casting.

*Dhurandhar:* Dhurandhar, one of the highest-grossing films of Indian cinema, brought together a top-gun cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor and many more – and nearly all actors wore the skin of their characters. Thanks to Chhabra’s eagle-eyed vision of seeing the bigger picture!

*Chillar Party:* Chillar Party, the Hindi language comedy film, revolves around eight feisty boys who befriend a young drifter, Fatka. Mukesh Chhabra brought together a playfully energetic cast that elevated the film’s mood several notches. Aarav Khanna, Chinmai Chandranshuh, Divij Handa, Irfan Khan, Naman Jain and many more actors brought a mix of playful energy with a message that touched hearts.

*Gangs of Wasseypur:* Mukesh Chhabra gathered some of the most versatile performers of Hindi cinema for the iconic film, Gangs of Wasseypur. Be it Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadha or others, the thoughtfully selected actors brought life to the characters so perfectly that each one of them attained cult status.

*Highway:* When Alia Bhatt was gaining popularity for her girl-next-door portrayals, Mukesh Chhabra flipped the tables by casting her in Highway, an Imtiaz Ali film that saw the actress in a different light altogether. Bhatt gained recognition for bringing a sense of maturity and intensity to the portrayal, expanding her repertoire even further.

*Bajrangi Bhaijaan:* Mukesh Chhabra brought together Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Harshali Malhotra and others in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a cult classic that made serious waves at the box office. Not only did the film’s plotline touch several hearts, but also stood out from the flow of actioners and thrillers.

*Dangal:* Mukesh Chhabra brought together Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra in Dangal, a film that continues to remain the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide. Chhabra launched Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh through Dangal, and as they say, the rest is history!

*Jawan:* In Jawan, Mukesh Chhabra brought together a mix of Bollywood and South film industry to deliver a bonafide blockbuster. Jawan starred Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanjay, Sanya Malhotra and others.

*Dil Bechara:* Dil Bechara is a coming-of-age tragedy romance that starred Sushant Singh Rajput in what marked his last film. Chhabra paired him opposite Sanjana Sanghi and delivered one of the most adorable on-screen duos so far.

In addition to these iconic films, Mukesh Chhabra has been the man behind multiple memorable pieces. And honestly, there’s a lot more to come!