Kunal Kemmu Reveals How Vanshika Dhir Was Cast in His Action-Comedy: ‘She Hadn’t Auditioned for My Film’

Kunal Kemmu’s upcoming action-comedy is already drawing attention for its blend of action, humour and unpredictable situations. The film, which Kemmu has written and directed in addition to playing the lead, features Preity G Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava and newcomer Vanshika Dhir in important roles.

Interestingly, Dhir was not originally auditioning for Kemmu’s film when he first noticed her. The actor-filmmaker recently revealed that he came across her during the audition process for another project and was impressed enough to ask casting director Mukesh Chhabra’s team to test her for his own film.

Kunal Kemmu spotted Vanshika Dhir during another audition

While discussing the casting process, Kemmu explained that he was searching for an actor who could speak Hindi naturally while also convincingly adopting a particular accent required for the character.

Dhir happened to be auditioning for a different project when Kemmu saw her performance. He felt she had the vocal flexibility he was looking for and asked the casting team to arrange an audition specifically for his film.

Kemmu recalled that he initially assumed Dhir naturally spoke Hindi with the accent he had heard. However, when they met, she demonstrated that she could also speak fluent, unaccented Hindi.

As Kemmu put it, he was surprised when she switched between the two styles because it initially made him think the casting requirement might not work as expected. He then realised that Dhir had deliberately adopted the accent and could reproduce it convincingly.

Her versatility helped her secure the role

For Kemmu, the discovery was ultimately about more than the accent itself. Once Dhir went through the audition and rehearsals, he felt that she fit the character naturally.

The filmmaker said her ability to adjust her speech and performance helped convince him that she was right for the part. That process eventually led to Dhir joining the cast alongside Kemmu, Preity G Zinta and Sparsh Shrivastava.

The role is particularly significant for Dhir as it marks her acting debut.

What the trailer reveals about the film

The recently released trailer gives audiences a first look at the film’s combination of fast-paced action and comedy. It hints at characters being caught up in chaotic situations while maintaining the irreverent tone expected from an action-comedy.

Kemmu is leading the project both in front of and behind the camera. He has written and directed the film, with production handled by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under the Drongo Films banner.

The project also represents another step in Kemmu’s filmmaking journey following his earlier directorial work.

Kunal Kemmu’s film heads to theatres on September 18

The action-comedy is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 18. With its trailer now introducing the central characters and the unusual situations surrounding them, the story of how Vanshika Dhir was discovered adds an interesting layer to the film’s pre-release buzz.