Niki Walia has opened up about a role in Zoya Akhtar’s 2015 film Dil Dhadakne Do that she came very close to playing before it was ultimately given to Shefali Shah. Niki said she had gone through a lot of the casting process -- scene readings and meetings -- and had been set up for dates for the film.
Shefali Shah played Neelam Mehra, the wife of Anil Kapoor's character Kamal Mehra in the film.
Niki Walia says role was taken away from her
In a conversation with Buzzzooka Prime, Niki recalled how she thought everything was settled before getting an unexpected call from Zoya Akhtar.
Zoya had flown her from the UK to India for the casting process, she said. She went to scene readings and meetings with the team, and she said the production had moved to the point where her dates had been booked.
“Woh yaha tak aakar, wapas le liya gaya mujhse. Unke apne reasons honge,” Niki said while recalling the experience.
She explained her cruise dates were already set up and she had been preparing her family for the possibility of being away for two to three months.
Niki said she had returned home after meeting with the team in India when she received the unexpected news.
Zoya Akhtar called her before she left
Niki said the casting process had seemed to be almost complete. She had been involved in scene readings, and even the production team took her passport as part of the arrangements.
She recalled that the dates had been booked and she was preparing to return home when Zoya called her the day before her departure.
The filmmaker told her that because of an internal decision, they would not be proceeding with her for the role.
For Niki, the news was disappointing because she thought that the opportunity had already been finalised.
She admitted that she still occasionally thinks about what it would have been like to play the character, and that she wishes she had got that role. At the same time, she said she accepted the decision and did not hold it against the filmmaker.
Why did Shefali Shah get the role?
Niki believes that the casting change was probably based on a creative decision.
The actress said filmmakers were likely to have found her personality stronger than what they wanted for the character. She said the role involved someone who was able to show vulnerability, and perhaps the team thought Shefali might have fit better in that emotional space.
Niki said she felt she was well suited to the character but understood why the filmmakers could have arrived at a different conclusion.
She also said that Shefali's strength in depicting sentimental and vulnerable characters could have been a factor in casting decisions.
Instead of questioning Zoya’s choice, Niki described it as part of the creative process.
‘I do regret the missed opportunity’
While Niki was professionally accepting of the decision, she still regrets losing the opportunity.
Being an actor who has been cast for a major movie and who did several rounds of casting in the process can create an expectation that the role is secured, and so it can be particularly difficult to be in a position to change it at the end.
Niki's comments give us a glimpse into the uncertainty of film casting - roles can change hands even after actors have given readings, meetings and logistical preparations.
Despite disappointment, she stayed philosophical and said what does not happen is not meant to happen, and people ultimately have to accept such decisions.
About Dil Dhadakne Do
Dil Dhadakne Do was released in 2015, and Zoya Akhtar directed it and had a large ensemble cast.
The film had Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar in the lead roles.
The story is centered around a wealthy Mehra family that embarks on a Mediterranean cruise to celebrate the parents’ wedding anniversary. And as the journey continues, family tensions, relationships and personal ambitions come to the surface.
As Shefali Shah portrayed Neelam Mehra, the family drama became a major part of the film, and Shefali Shah’s portrayal of Neelam Mehra was recognised for her relationships, expectations and social pressures in a rich family.
Niki Walia’s reveal now offers an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about the film’s casting and shows how dramatically roles can change even when an actor appears to be close to joining a project.
Comments
Please to leave a comment on this article.