Mar 20, 2026 3:51pm IST
Shakun Batra Reveals ‘Kapoor & Sons’ Casting Struggles: ‘Many Actors Rejected It’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In 2016, director Shakun Batra came up with a coming-of-age and heartwarming story through “Kapoor & Sons,” which explored themes of a dysfunctional family and the complexities of human nature. As the film celebrates 10 years of release (March 18) and still finds its relevance in society, Batra talks about the ensemble cast, taking creative risks and whether the film can be made now in an exclusive interview with Variety India.
The filmmaker says he finds it gratifying that audiences are still pouring love on “Kapoor & Sons,” but one never thinks about all these things when he makes a movie. “You don't know what is going to happen 10 years later. At that point, the stress is on you to just feel that hopefully, it is released and audiences will like it. But to know that 10 years down the line, people still care to talk about it or discuss it or say such amazing, beautiful things. It inspires you to go back to what you did and what your heart told you to do. So, I am kind of feeling inspired and motivated again with all the love. And that has come again after 10 years.”
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Batra adds that the feeling is more special to get a love for a 10-year-old film, as nowadays they have become a commodity. “It feels so nice to know that films can do this to people and films can stay with people for so long. Because they have become a commodity now. Films have just become a bit like how you go out for dinner. You go out for movies. But I like that a movie can still have a relationship this deep with the audience. So, it always inspires you to then try something that can have this kind of connection with the audience,” shares Shakun.
When questioned about taking the creative risk at that time with a movie targeting only multiplex audiences, he replies, “At that time, honestly, I didn't care if it was. We just spoke about it being something that I wanted to do. And it was still possible to make these films. People didn't have these kinds of conversations all the time. People were still making these kinds of heartfelt stories. So it just felt easier to make it then than now, I think. So, I guess at that time, so many questions weren't in my head and it helped. Because I wasn't thinking so much about box-office and weekend and theatrical.”
The film comprised a brilliant ensemble of Rishi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ratna Pathak Shah and Rajat Kapoor. Talking about the casting process and them coming on board, Batra says, “Now that you think of these things, it feels big. But at that time, obviously, the actors took a while. Because we arrived at these actors after being rejected by many other actors. But Rishi (Kapoor) sir, Ratna Pathak and Rajat Kapoor agreed to it instantly. As I said, now it feels unimaginable. But back then, those things happened.”
When asked whether it is possible to make this film now, considering the subplot and core ideas, he responds, “I know it's harder now. But I'm pretty sure that somebody, someone, somewhere is going to surprise us with a film that is so personal that it will connect deeply.”
Bankrolled by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta under Dharma Productions, the film was written by Shakun Batra and Ayesha Devitre Dhillon.
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