Mukesh Chhabra

Chhabra graduated from Delhi University with an acting diploma from the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. He completed a six-year acting and teaching stint with the ‘Theatre in Education’ Company (TIE) affiliated with the National School of Drama in India.[5]

Chhabra came to Mumbai in 1997 and worked as an Assistant Casting Director before setting up his own casting company. His first film as independent casting director was the small budget film Chintuji..

Subsequently, Chhabra did the casting for films of different genres like Kai Po Che, Shahid, Chennai Express, Jai Ho, Hasee To Phasee, Mastram and D-day[6] Apart from films, he's also done casting for TVCs. In his career, Chhabra has employed several unconventional casting methods. For example, he spotted the budding actor Irfan Khan, who played the character 'Fatka' in the film Chillar Party, on the streets of Mumbai.[7] Chhabra's democratic style of auditioning has previously invited nuisance value from potential actors.[8]

Actor Rajkumar Rao was chosen to play one of the leads for the film Kai Po Che only on Chhabra's insistence.[9] Rao's talent in the film won him critical acclaim and later Chhabra cast him in Shahid as the leading man.[10]

• Official website
• Mukesh Chhabra at IMDb