Dhurandhar isn’t just roaring at the box office — it’s also shining a spotlight on a department that rarely gets its due. As audiences and industry insiders praise the film confirm for its performances and razor-sharp casting, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has made a bold declaration: he wants to bring India its first Oscar for casting.
And he’s not shy about saying it out loud.
“I Will Bring an Oscar to India for Casting”
Speaking in a recent conversation, Mukesh Chhabra said he’s been actively manifesting an Oscar win for India — specifically in casting. He pointed out that despite being one of the most crucial pillars of filmmaking, casting has long been ignored at Indian award ceremonies.
According to Chhabra, recognition may be slow to come at home, but that won’t stop him. He admitted he feels nervous saying something this big publicly — but also believes that sometimes, ambition needs to be spoken into existence.
His confidence feels timely, especially given how Dhurandhar’s ensemble — from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna to R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal — has been widely applauded for feeling perfectly placed rather than performative.
Oscar’s New Best Casting Category Changes the Game
Chhabra’s statement gains real weight because the Academy has officially introduced a Best Casting category for the 2026 Oscars. Under the new rules, members of the Casting Directors Branch will shortlist nominees, after which Academy voters will view film excerpts and recorded interviews with the casting teams before final voting.
For the first time, casting — often called the invisible art of cinema — will be judged as a standalone creative achievement.
For Indian cinema, this opens a long-closed door.
A Career Built on Iconic Ensembles
Mukesh Chhabra’s résumé already reads like a greatest-hits list of modern Hindi cinema. Over the years, he has handled casting for blockbusters and critical favourites including Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Rockstar, Jawan, Dunki, and more.
Beyond Dhurandhar, he’s also overseeing casting for one of the most anticipated upcoming films — Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana — further cementing his role in shaping large-scale cinematic worlds.
Dhurandhar’s Run Adds Momentum
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar has emerged as a phenomenon in 2025. The spy action thriller has already crossed ₹634 crore worldwide, becoming the third-highest-grossing Indian film of the year, and is now closing in on Chhaava for the second spot.
With Dhurandhar 2 scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, the franchise — and its casting choices — remain firmly in the spotlight.
Final Words
Mukesh Chhabra’s Oscar ambition may sound audacious, but it’s also perfectly timed. With global recognition finally opening up to casting as an art form — and Indian films increasingly finding international resonance — the idea no longer feels impossible.
If Dhurandhar is any indication, casting in Indian cinema isn’t just catching up — it’s ready to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
