Casting is about unearthing new talent: Dinesh Soi

Mumbai, April 17 : Popular casting director Dinesh Sudarshan Soi believes casting is not about finding suitable actors for roles but it’s about unearthing new talent that can be used across any creative field.

Known for his work in films, television serials and advertisements, Dinesh wants to give casting a new definition.

"I work closely with a lot of newcomers who want to be famous. Some of them may not be good at acting but they believe only cinema can make them popular. I try and show them there are other creative fields that can make them equally popular," Dinesh, who has worked on nearly 200 films, told IANS.

Elaborating more on the process of casting, he said: "Casting is truly about unearthing new talent. It’s about understanding someone’s talent and guiding him or her in the right direction. When someone’s talent is not good enough for acting, you help them utilize it in any other creative field."

Hailing from a solid educational background, Dinesh owes his journey in the film industry to destiny. He has a Masters degree in Commerce and Business Management.

"I was an academically inclined man and as cliched as it may sound, films happened luck by chance," Dinesh said, adding it’s time casting gets its due.

He says nearly 60 percent of a film’s budget goes into casting.

"Irrespective of the size of a project, most of its budget goes into casting. If it’s a star’s film, about 60 percent of the budget goes into casting. Still, most casting directors are merely sidelined as a mediator. Our work is yet to be recognized by awards, he said, hopeful of change soon.

Talking about how much he enjoys the process of casting, he said it gives him a high.

"I feel happy when I cast someone for a role. A lot of times casting depends on what kind of actors a director wants. Some directors want intense actors while others want those who are popular. As a casting director, we need to understand the demand and deliver what they want," he said.

Dinesh just completed producer Pradeep Rangwani’s "Red Affair" as a project whose cast comprises Arbaaz Khan, Manjari Phadnis, Ashmit Patel, Maheck Chahal, Mukul Dev and many other noticeable characters.