On episode 113 of The Chill Hour, we sit down with Mukesh Chhabra, the man behind the casting of iconic films like Dangal, Chhichhore, and Dil Bechara.

We talk about the harsh realities of being an actor today — from the lack of opportunities to the pressure of social media followers. Mukesh breaks down the casting process, what most actors get wrong during auditions, and why preparation and patience are key. He also opens up about his toughest casting challenge, his biggest regret, and what makes Ranbir Kapoor perfect for the role of Ram.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy this unfiltered and eye-opening conversation between Deepak and Mukesh Chhabra.

00:00 Intro

02:23 Known Through Your Work

07:57 How Long Does Casting Take?

14:53 Fitness and Acting

16:30 Not Enough Roles for Actors

20:04 Too Many Auditions Can Backfire

23:30 Common Issues with Casting Agencies

25:06 Most Actors Come Unprepared

28:14 Great Actors Always Find Work

34:35 Does Follower Count Matter in Casting?

38:23 Crafting the Perfect Actor Intro

40:40 Why Ranbir Was Perfect for Ram

43:56 Toughest Casting Challenge

47:02 Casting Director's Earning Potential

49:02 His Biggest Life Regret

53:19 Are Good Films Still Being Made?

57:09 Closing Note

The Chill Hour with Deepak is a podcast curated by Deepak Pareek, a media entrepreneur, content creator, creative producer, and a sucker for good, candid conversations. The idea behind the podcast is not to have conversations around generic topics that are easily available on the internet but to have insightful, chill, and personalized conversations around life, business, content, marketing, and much more!

We're having your favorite content creators, entrepreneurs, business owners, freelancers, RJs, beatboxers, artists, singers, actors, directors, and a lot more folks on the show to bring a fresh perspective and have a candid chat with them.

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