MUMBAI: We are proud to announce that Indian Television is bringing the 15th edition of our annual Indian Telly Technical Trade and Programming Awards, which recognize the best in television production, editing, writing, direction, distribution, and creation.

People who play a very important role behind the camera are casting directors. A show or a film’s success depends upon the actors. And the knowledge to choose the perfect cast is held only by a casting director.

TellyChakkar got in touch with a Talent Next’s COO Neha K Bisht, who has been in the business of casting for quite some time now. They have given an opportunity to many popular and aspiring actors.

We asked Neha how important casting is in any project. She replied, ‘Well, it’s as good as food without salt. No matter how good the script/concept is, if it’s not supported with the right actor the project will not have its desired outcome. So it’s one of the most crucial parts of any creative project.’

On it being considered a thankless job, she shared, ‘We have been lucky to work with people who have not only appreciated our work but have also given good recommendations to their fellow producers. I personally feel in any job, if it’s done well, people do appreciate.’

Neha has casted for three different mediums: TV, films, and digital. What brainstorming happens to make sure that actor fits into the character perfectly? She said, ‘It’s an everyday marathon with multiple people to please, and each individual comes with their set of beliefs. So everyday unfolds with new developments, feedback, and course of action. While with some characters, we do get lucky, there are few that take really long.’

Lastly, we asked how easy or difficult it is to deal with producers and channel heads. She replied, ‘It’s a part of our job, and everything that we do is easy if we believe so. Every interaction is good feedback and helps us do better.’

Keep up the good work, Neha!