In an effort to bring an authentic portrayal of intellectual disabilities to the silver screen, the casting director of the upcoming film “Sitaare Zameen Par,” Anmol Ahuja, shares an inside look into his meticulous and compassionate casting process. Led by Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh, the film seeks to present a truthful representation of intellectual disabilities, an endeavor Ahuja embraced with heartfelt dedication.
Working with Aamir Khan has consistently been a source of both professional growth and inspiration for Ahuja. Known for his commitment to excellence, Khan’s projects often come with their fair share of challenging yet fulfilling experiences for collaborators. “From his company, I’ve learnt the essence of meritocracy,” said Ahuja, recalling his past collaborations on “Secret Superstar” and current ones on “Lahore 1947” and “Sitaare Zameen Par.” “If you are good, you’ll make it and if you aren’t, you won’t. They cast for the character,” he added, underscoring the importance of authentic representation.
“Sitaare Zameen Par,” an adaptation of the Spanish film “Campeones” (2018), directed by RS Prasanna, tells the story of a hot-tempered basketball coach who creates a team of individuals with intellectual disabilities to compete in the Special Olympics. The task of casting, however, was anything but straightforward.
Describing the casting process as “heart-wrenching,” Ahuja revealed the depth of the emotional journey taken by his team over the past year. The team’s mission was to find not actors who could mimic intellectual disabilities, but individuals who truly live with these challenges, ensuring the film’s portrayal remained anchored in reality. “We were not looking for actors who could play intellectually-challenged people. We were looking for intellectually-challenged people, who could play the characters,” Ahuja stated.
The task required a sensitive approach to balance the characters’ attributes with the actors’ real-life experiences. The journey demanded nearly a year of interaction and relationship-building, culminating in a selection process that left a profound impact on the casting team. “I remember one of my team members broke down after working on the project for three months. I told her that Aamir has been doing this for three years, and Prasanna, for five,” Ahuja recalled, emphasizing the deep emotional investment required by everyone involved.
Families needed convincing, too.
. The casting team had to navigate the labyrinth of social stigma and trauma that accompany intellectual disabilities. “The social trauma of these individuals can’t be put into words. When I was in Delhi University, there were no pathways for the blind. There is pain in them. We didn’t want to cast actors and ridicule their lived-in experience,” Ahuja explained. This sensitivity was crucial in gaining the trust and cooperation of the parents and guardians of the selected individuals.
The end of this exhaustive search came in December 2023, after the team had diligently scouted throughout the year, eventually identifying 12 individuals scattered across the country. For Ahuja, the blueprint for this intricate task was shaped by his previous experience casting Surya Kasibhatla, an actor with cerebral palsy, for the film “Jalsa” (2022). “I took a lot of time to find him. But that was casting for one; here, we had to find a whole team,” Ahuja highlighted, underscoring the complexity of the task.
The monetary and emotional support from Aamir Khan played a pivotal role in this process. Building connections with the guardians and teachers of these individuals proved to be essential. “They were happy to help because they found us sensitive and empathetic,” Ahuja noted, reflecting the importance of demonstrating genuine care and understanding in gaining the trust of those involved.
“Sitaare Zameen Par” stands as a testament to the commitment of Aamir Khan and his team to authentic storytelling. It offers an honest portrayal that honors the lived experiences of those with intellectual disabilities. By choosing real individuals over actors, the film aims to shed light on the uniqueness and beauty of these lives, emphasizing their inclusion within society.
In a world where representation often falls short of reality, “Sitaare Zameen Par” strives to bridge that gap. With Khan and Deshmukh at the helm, and Ahuja’s dedication to the casting process, the film promises to be a poignant and heartwarming reminder that everyone, regardless of their challenges, is a star shining brightly among us.
