Home / Arts and Entertainment / Shahid Kapoor's Daring Transformation from 'Boy-Next-Door' to 'Mad Man' in 'Udta Punjab'
Shahid Kapoor's Daring Transformation from 'Boy-Next-Door' to 'Mad Man' in 'Udta Punjab'
8 Sep
Summary
- Shahid Kapoor jumped at the chance to play a rare, unconventional character in 'Udta Punjab'
- Alia Bhatt's persistence convinced director Abhishek Chaubey to cast her despite initial doubts
- Kareena Kapoor Khan agreed to a smaller role after Chaubey convinced her
According to a recent interview, in 2025 director Abhishek Chaubey shared insights into the casting process for his 2016 film 'Udta Punjab'. Chaubey recalled that Shahid Kapoor was the first actor to come on board, instantly getting excited about the opportunity to play an unconventional, "mad man" character - a rare chance for the actor known for his 'boy-next-door' image.
Chaubey also revealed that it was Shahid who suggested Alia Bhatt's name for the film. However, the director was initially skeptical about casting Alia, having only seen her work in 'Student of the Year'. It was Alia's persistence and her explanation of her intentions that eventually convinced Chaubey to give her the role.
The director also shared that approaching Kareena Kapoor Khan was a challenge, as she had a smaller role compared to Shahid and Alia. But Chaubey managed to convince Kareena to join the cast, and she came on board despite her limited screen time.
