By News18
Actor Ali Fazal recently opened up about the major difference between the casting systems in Bollywood and Hollywood. He said that he is not bothered by nepotism in Bollywood, as there are bigger problems that exist in the industry. He pointed out that getting roles in Bollywood often depends on being part of certain social or professional circles. Meanwhile, in contrast, he said that Hollywood has a more structured, agency-based casting system, where opportunities are accessible to all actors, and provides a more level playing field.
While speaking on Aleena Dissects, Ali Fazal said that nepotism does not bother him, as there are also other issues when it comes to casting in Bollywood. “There are agencies, there are contacts. There are groups, let’s say. And if you are part of the group, then I will probably get a part. Because I have been to this group and I am friends with this one. The system in Hollywood is that there is an agency system. There’s a call put out commonly all over. So every agent, every manager is a member of that particular piece- let’s say, a platform. And on that platform now the call has come- ‘This project is being cast. These are the timelines. Get your actors to send it in.’ Nobody gets a say that my actor will (get a role) because I am a bigger company or I am a bigger entity.”
He added that there are unfair practices in Hollywood as well, but at least there’s a transparent system that provides a more level playing field. “Of course, there is unfair stuff happening there also. A lot of stuff. Waha pe bhi kuchh aur cheezein hoti hain. But there’s a base system. I think we could probably benefit from them.”
However, he believes that the casting system in Bollywood will change slowly but surely. “As we keep championing our casting directors more and more, I think that system will change. We have brilliant casting people- Nikita Grover, Dilip Shankar, Tess Joseph, Vaibhav Vishant, Anti-Casting team. It’s amazing that these people are doing some really cool work. I think that system will really help them and rest of the acting fraternity. That’s why a thing like this- somebody belonging to a certain family- it doesn’t bother me. I think we have bigger problems in the industry than that,” concluded Ali Fazal.
Ali Fazal was recently seen in Anurag Basu’s ‘Metro…In Dino’, which released in theatres on 4th July.