Sitaare Zameen Par casting director Tess Joseph on working with Aamir Khan, casting neurodivergent actors: ‘He by no means imposed himself, uncommon of somebody of his stature to…’ | Bollywood Information

Little did Tess know that over a decade later, she’d be roped in because the casting director on RS Prasanna’s coming-of-age sports activities comedy Sitaare Zameen Par, the non secular sequel to Taare Zameen Par, additionally starring Aamir. In an unique interview with SCREEN, she opens up on casting the titular, neurodivergent Sitaare for the movie, working with Aamir, and the way the success of this movie may open extra doorways for the neighborhood.

The casting strategy of Sitaare Zameen Par was fairly lengthy. How did you navigate that?

When Prasanna, Aamir, me, and the entire workforce got here collectively, there was one factor that was actually aligned: the intention. When that occurs, ardour and persistence take over. You possibly can have a casting course of that’s lengthy, layered, and led with love. If there was actually auditioning, it was us. We had been being auditioned by all of the dad and mom. After we did the workshops, the dad and mom got here to us and stated, “Now, we belief you. Now, we see our children blossoming.” So we didn’t actually construct a forged, we constructed belief.

What was the widespread trait that you just had been on the lookout for in every Sitaara?

We began with an open name for any younger, enthusiastic particular person from the neurodivergent neighborhood to ship us one thing that they love acting on. Simran, who performs Golu Khan, despatched us her performing the ‘Ek Chutki Sindhoor’ monologue (from the 2007 movie Om Shanti Om), Aroush (who performs Satbir) despatched us a double character Bollywood scene, Rishabh and Vedant (Raju and Bantu respectively) despatched us movies of them dancing, and Rishi (Sharmaji) despatched us a mime of enjoying the keyboard. What began as a trickle went on to develop into a waterfall of tapes, hundreds from throughout the nation.

We had been on the lookout for a spark or a persona. We weren’t on the lookout for a personality, however simply presence. Every actor who got here in introduced one thing actual and rooted. What united all of them was the enjoyment to carry out and take a look at various things. We knew this was a bodily movie so we wanted a sure form of physicality. However we had been by no means fearful about communication as a result of we knew we’d discover a means. Their personalities, even their phrases, who they inherently are, have made it to the ultimate minimize.

Whereas casting the Sitaare, the place all did you search for?

We wrote to institutes, therapists, faculties, schools, and ADAPT (Ready Disabled All Individuals Collectively) throughout metros and small cities. We additionally reached out to @bubble.ds, which is a web page on Instagram. It was by no means about geography, however about visibility. So if there was a toddler in Kerala, Assam, Bihar or Delhi who wished to be seen, we needed to discover a option to see them. Gopi (Guddu) is from Kerala, Naman (Hargovind) is from Delhi, and Rishabh is from Bengaluru. It’s a forged that really represents the nation.

How concerned was Aamir within the casting course of?

Aamir was part of all the things. I really like how engaged he was. Most manufacturing corporations gained’t deliver a shortlist right down to Mumbai. Right here’s one which introduced in additional than who was required to town so we may do workshops and study collectively. He was not solely concerned, but additionally current and respectful. He did workshops, noticed audition tapes, and gave suggestions. What remained essentially the most with me was his belief. He by no means imposed himself. It’s very uncommon for somebody of his stature to say with a lot braveness, “Go forward and forged this authentically, I’m right here.”

Do you assume the success of Sitaare Zameen Par would open extra doorways for neurodivergent actors in Hindi cinema?

After I watched this movie, you understand what illustration can do. It’s not simply the Sitaare, however all the children on display screen — whether or not it’s the Nanhe Khiladi, each match, each workforce — they’re all neurodivergent actors. That is when illustration isn’t a guidelines, however a accountability. I do consider it’ll open doorways. I’m hopeful, but additionally watchful as a result of hope needs to be adopted by behavior. We have now an viewers that’s prepared, however the query is, are we prepared to inform extra tales like this? I see Prasanna and Aamir as lighthouses who’ll actually present the best way. Sitaare Zameen Par shouldn’t be an exception, however the begin of a brand new normal. After we do one thing, we must always do it with care, time, and authenticity. These ought to develop into non-negotiables. Workshopping earlier than we take a look at somebody, particularly when a neighborhood hasn’t had entry to studying a craft, that’s actually elevating for fairness quite than equality. You place individuals on the similar level-playing discipline earlier than you make them play.

Dolly Ahulwalia and Brijendra Kala made for such a beautiful pair within the movie. How did you forged them?

Aren’t they superb? And aren’t they an unlikely couple to see on display screen? If you have a look at them, they need to appear like a pair you wouldn’t historically see. I really like how ‘Sabka Apna Apna Regular’ is explored by means of all these completely different characters. We had been concerned within the casting early on. However I’ve to tip my hat off to Anmol Ahuja and Casting Bay as we handed on the baton to them they usually did such a tremendous job that you just really feel like that is what collaboration ought to appear like. From discovering Ashish (Sunil), the one lacking piece within the Sitaare, to assist forged the secondary and tertiary characters, that’s all Anmol, Aamir, and Prasanna working collectively.

Like Kareena Kapoor did in Aamir’s Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), Genelia D’Souza additionally auditioned for her half in Sitaare Zameen Par. Do you assume this can be a well being development of testing even the established actors for main components?

Aamir loves auditioning! That is the reality. He’s all the time sport. This actually ranges the enjoying discipline as a result of this isn’t about hierarchy, however concord and chemistry. Aamir actually believes within the story. When he invitations established actors to audition, it offers out a really clear message: we’re all right here to serve the story greatest. He’s very pleased to do lengthy auditions. It’s a deal with additionally to see somebody speak about how he auditions for each movie.

Additionally Learn — Aamir Khan says he was requested to do an motion movie after Laal Singh Chaddha failure: ‘I had many affords, however story of Sitaare Zameen Par entered my bloodstream’

A lot of Aamir’s movies have boasted of nice youngster actors, from Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par to Zaira Wasim in Dangal (2016) and Secret Celebrity (2017). What’s it about his movies that makes youngster actors stand out?

Aamir is a bit of a kid himself, in one of the simplest ways attainable. He’s intuitive and curious. He listens greater than he reacts. He has a softness when he enters the room. He hugged every considered one of them throughout our first workshop. He has a sincerity in the best way he observes individuals, particularly youngsters. I don’t assume he rushes to carry out or current one thing. He actually builds all the things. Discovery is important to him, not simply within the script, but additionally within the individuals round him.

Of all of the roles he’s completed, the most important is of him as an eternally studying pupil. Possibly that’s why youngsters reply to him. They really feel seen, not judged. He additionally surrounds himself with individuals of comparable power, like Prasanna and a crew that protects the ethos and intention of a movie. The kids then really feel protected. They don’t act, they only develop into. In his movies, they’re not secondary, catalysts, handy, or for comedian aid. They’re the heartbeat and soul of the movie.