Inaamulhaq, a critically acclaimed actor known for his performances in films like Filmistaan, Firaaq, Airlift, and Jolly LLB 2, has recently voiced his concerns about the casting practices in Bollywood, pointing out a lack of transparency and a potential bias that favors certain individuals. In a recent interview, he highlighted a systemic issue within the industry, where opportunities are often limited to those with close connections to casting directors.
Inaamulhaq stated that a major casting scam is unfolding in the industry. He believes the current casting landscape in Bollywood is highly gated. According to Inaamulhaq, earlier, directors could discover talent during auditions, but now, even someone as talented as Rajinikanth might not get a chance if he were starting today because casting directors might not even forward his profile. He recalls a time when the industry was more open, with artists having the freedom to attend auditions, allowing genuine talent to be discovered. He said directors used to have in-house casting departments, and a director's eye could fall on someone during an audition, changing everything. He gave the example of how Subhash Ghai discovered Jackie Shroff.
He elaborated on how directors now rely on data of selective people, and those people are often close to the casting directors. He questions whether it is possible that only those close to casting directors are getting opportunities and who is stopping the manipulation of these lists. Instead of solely blaming casting directors, Inaamulhaq urges directors and producers to reinstate in-house casting, as the current system leads to seeing the same 10-12 faces on screen repeatedly.
In the interview, Inaamulhaq also addressed being typecast and often being referred to as "Akshay Kumar's co-actor" despite his diverse roles and critical acclaim. He has been working in the industry for 17 years. Despite facing these challenges, he has learned to navigate the industry, focusing on working with visionary directors who approach him directly for roles. He distinguishes himself as a "director's actor," someone chosen by directors who believe he fits their character, rather than relying solely on casting directors.
In an old interview with Bollywood Hungama, Inaamulhaq said that most casting directors are arrogant. He also spoke about how casting directors misunderstood him. Inaamulhaq's journey hasn't been easy. He has faced financial struggles and has experienced both extreme poverty and luxury. He has traveled in trains sitting near the toilet and has also traveled via solo charter flights.
