Over the past year, several filmmakers have voiced concerns about how talent agencies and managers are limiting access to A-list celebrities. Even acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap has criticized the growing layers within the Bollywood system. In a recent interview, 25-year-old filmmaker Arnab Chatterjee, who has written, produced, and directed Murderbaad, opened up about the industry’s hierarchical structure. Arnab revealed that he was unable to cast any A-list actors in his film due to the intermediaries involved. He also spoke about his admiration for his favourite star kid, Ananya Panday.
During a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, the director revealed that, as an outsider, he faced disrespect within the industry. “When you come from outside, actors and producers don’t consider you, they don’t even sit with you. Kahaani sun lete hain, par mana hi karte hain. They have had their own ways of rejecting the script.”
Arnab Chatterjee further shared that managers and agencies have created a barrier, leaving filmmakers with little to no direct access to A-list actors. Arnab said, “I don’t have that kind of an access. You can’t reach out to them, they are hiding behind agencies who gatekeep. There are 12-15 managers under the agencies. If you reach the manager, they will suggest some other actor’s name to cast. Around six months get wasted in this process. You don’t even reach the star.”
He added, “It happened with me on Murderbaad as well. Gatekeeping becomes a problem. If those stars watch this film now, they won’t even know it was offered to them. I approached certain actors in the past 4-5 years. Some said that I have no studio right now, while someone’s manager said you should cast another actor.”
Arnab Chatterjee even went to an actor’s house directly with his script ready. “He openly told me that I love your script, aap bhi kar loge, lekin bina studio ke toh hum nahi kar sakte. OTT mein kaafi experienced the, kaam acha hai unka. I got many congratulatory messages from actors for Murderbaad, but they don’t even know it was offered to them. If I meet them, I’ll surely tell this.”
When asked which star kids he would cast if he ever got a chance, he replied, “I think Ananya Panday, she is very talented. She has proved her haters pretty wrong. Only she can get a few experimental roles, I would love to work with her. Ibrahim Ali Khan as well, why not?”
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However, when the actor’s film Nadaaniyan was mentioned in the conversation, he laughed and said, “Sahi lagi mujhe, shayad. That’s why I am saying, the choice of films of actors can be a bit better. I don’t blame them, they require rebooting because of people around them.”
