Nikita Dutta on casting on the basis of surnames and followers: ‘A blessing in disguise to meet people who have the right intent’ - Exclusive

The conversation around cinema and everything it represents is at its peak as we speak. As the ecosystem undergoes cultural shifts every now and then, there is always room for more and better. But that doesn't mean there are no evils left. One of the biggest evils, as agreed upon by most people, is casting based on social media following. Hollywood star Ethan Hawke was the most recent celebrity to speak about it, and now Nikita Dutta, who will next be seen in The Waking of a Nation, created by Ram Madhvani, has shared her views on the same. The actor revealed why it felt refreshing to be on Ram Madhvani’s set compared to many others and how merit was the only thing that would get you the job.

Nikita Dutta Talks About Casting Based on Followers & Surnames

Known for Kabir Singh, Nikita Dutta joined OTTplay for an exclusive conversation with her co-stars Bhawsheel Singh and Sahil Mehta, where they discussed The Waking of a Nation, working with Ram Madhvani, finally finding a set where merit was the deciding factor, and whether they still see social media as a validation tool. Nikita emphasized that while it is true that casting often happens based on follower count and surname, she felt refreshed when Ram Madhvani did not follow that trend. Read on to know everything you should about the same. 

"Yes, it is true. You get cast based on the number of followers you have, your surname, or whether you have some backing. I feel it's very refreshing, and at the same time, we as actors or artists—hum log dil ke bade saaf hote hai, bade sachhe hote hai. Toh humare liye yeh bohot clean hota hai ki ji, aap achhi acting kar rahe hai, aapko kaam mil jaye. Aapka kaam logo ko pasand aaye, woh aapko pasand kare (We artists are pure at heart. We believe that good work leads to more good work and that if people like your work, they will appreciate you.),” Nikita Dutta said.

Also read: The Waking of a Nation: Nikita Dutta describes her character as 'bold, fierce' woman - 'Ram Madhvani chose to show...'

Praising Ram Madhvani for not following the trend, she added, "So when you come with a mindset like that and then meet somebody who casts purely on the basis of merit, I feel like my faith in the entire process of cinema and the love we have for it is restored. This has happened to me, at least. When I work with someone like Ram Madhvani, who selects people solely based on whether they are good enough for the job, it feels great. And finally, you come across people who match your energy."

"It is indeed a blessing in disguise to meet people who have the right intent and who cast with the right intent. I feel that all four of us auditioned for this show. It’s not like Ram sir checked our auditions and then went to verify our social media footprint. He is not that person. So I just feel it is absolutely refreshing that, in today's time, there are filmmakers like him," Nikita Dutta concluded.

The Waking of a Nation releases on SonyLIV on March 7, 2025. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

Also Read: Before The Waking of a Nation releases, watch these films and series that highlight India’s revolutionary history