It is important to be good looking as an actor; the art comes later: Casting Director Abhishek Choubey

Freelance actor Abhishek Choubey is also an eminent casting director (CD). Coming from Bhagalpur, he has created a mark for himself in the television industry. Having gone through the process of casting, he has learnt a lot of life’s realities. Tellychakkar.com takes this opportunity to throw light on how casting is done for television shows by talking to the CD in person. Excerpts: Tell us something about yourself? Born and raised in Bhagalpur, I did my graduation from there after which I came over to Mumbai. Always wanting to become an actor, I started my career by doing modeling and taking part in shows. Later, I got into freelance direction and then on to freelance casting, I have gone through the casting process for many shows. I used to work with Balaji Telefilms as an associate casting director. I have left the outfit in search of better opportunities. Could you tell us about the role of a casting director? The script writer pens a script and we have a panel of casting directors. For the casting process, we call and pitch for the actors suitable for the script. We co-ordinate with them regarding the availability of their dates and later on call them for a look and screen test. After they qualify, I put their names forward to the Casting Head. Later, the names go to the channel. The channel’s approval is required only if it’s a big or a major show. What are the things that are required at the time of short listing an actor for a particular role? Honestly, good look is very important if you want to become an actor; then comes acting. I have seen this, how much ever we say that acting is important, be it any kind of geographic or demographic location, the actor should be tall, fair, good looking and suitable for any kind of role. Have you ever faced an actor’s tantrums? No, be it senior or junior, be it monetary issues or date issues, they talk it out with the production people. After we allot the dates, they audition for it. In my life, I haven’t come across any star tantrums. Do you feel insecure, in terms of career prospect, being a casting director? No… I don’t, because I have multiple roles. Well, I have something else to bank on, being an actor, though I have stopped acting for now. I have been casting for various shows and I feel that it’s one of the toughest jobs one can have behind the camera. Has it ever happened that you have cast your friends when they requested you to? Very rarely, even if I do I make sure that they go through the process of the look test and the casting head has approved it. Not always, at times, some actors also give us their friend’s numbers after which we call them for a look test and take the call depending how well they fit the bill. It so also happens that at times the channel or the producer gives us their list of probable names. It is for us then to take a call to find out if a person would be able to do a particular role. But mostly the actors are repeated by the production house they are affiliated to. How has your experience been with Balaji Telefilms? Well… the casting team of every production house is the same. I never had any confrontation with Ekta Kapoor… as I was a freelancer. What is the difference between a freelance casting director and full time one? Not much, I work according to my convenience and I don’t have to go to office every day. On the other hand, a full timer will have to tab every single thing in the office. As for me, I do freelancing for one production house at a time only. Why did you leave Balaji Telefilms? I already got a call from other productions houses and this time I want to work as a full timer till I start something of my own as I feel freelancing pays you less. I have to send money to my parents too as I am the sole earning member in my family. I will probably join my new job in the last week of October. What are your future plans? I would like to get into scriptwriting for movies and get back to acting as well.