Acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently revealed fascinating trivia about the cult classic Gangs of Wasseypur. In an interview with Mid-day, Mehta disclosed that he was initially attached to directing the movie and even had his close friend Manoj Bajpayee in mind for the lead role.
Hansal Mehta recalls “Almost” directing Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur: “It was an impractical dream. I told him I have just one request…”
Hansal Mehta’s initial involvement with GoW
The story, originally conceived by writer Zeishan Quadri, landed in Hansal Mehta’s lap. They collaborated on the script for a few months, with Manoj Bajpayee envisioned for the character of Faisal Khan. Hansal, however, faced challenges in securing funding and a producer to bring the project to life.
Anurag Kashyap takes the helm
Unable to mount the production himself, Hansal Mehta decided to step aside. Fortunately, the project found a new home with Anurag Kashyap. Interestingly, Hansal shared that he had just one request for Kashyap when handing over the reins: to cast Manoj Bajpayee in the film.
He recalled, “We started writing, and in the meantime, Zeishan went and met Anurag. Anurag called me and asked, ‘Sir, aap bana rahe ho toh main nahi banata hoon (If you’re really doing it, I’ll step away). But I didn’t have a producer; it was an impractical dream. I told him I have just one request, that he hire Manoj because I’d promised to take him in.”
Gangs of Wasseypur evolves
Anurag Kashyap’s vision for the film differed from Hansal’s initial concept. Anurag added the pivotal origin story element, necessitating a rewrite. This resulted in a two-part saga instead of the single film Hansal Mehta had envisioned.
Casting Shift and rising stars
While Manoj Bajpayee remained a part of the project, the character he was originally attached to (Faisal Khan) ultimately went to Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Manoj was cast as Sardar Khan, Faisal’s father. This decision proved to be a turning point for both actors’ careers, with Gangs of Wasseypur launching them into the spotlight.
Beyond its impact on Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Gangs of Wasseypur introduced audiences to a new wave of talented actors including Pankaj Tripathi, Huma Qureshi, and Richa Chadha. The film continues to be celebrated as a landmark achievement in Indian cinema.
Also Read: Hansal Mehta slams Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna over controversial incident of him pushing actress Anjali: “Who is this scumbag?”
More Pages: Gangs Of Wasseypur Box Office Collection
, Gangs Of Wasseypur Movie Review
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