Mukesh Chhabra is a Mumbai-based casting director, acting workshop director and actor who has cast several actors for movies including director Vikas Bahl's Chillar Party, Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, Abhishek Kapoor's Kai Po Che and Nikhil Advani's D-Day.
Chhabra graduated from Delhi University with an acting diploma from the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. He completed a six-year acting and teaching stint with the ‘Theatre in Education’ Company (TIE) affiliated with the National School of Drama.(NSD)
Chhabra came to Mumbai in 2007 and worked as an Assistant Casting Director before setting up his own casting company. His first film as independent casting director was the small budget film Chintuji. His casting for the film Chillar Party won him accolades based on which director Anurag Kashyap engaged him for the casting of his crime thriller Gangs of Wasseypur and also its sequel.
Subsequently, Chhabra did the casting for films of different genres like Kai Po Che, Shahid, Chennai Express, Jai Ho, Hasee To Phasee, Mastram and D-day. Apart from films, he's also done casting for TVCs. In his career, Chhabra has employed several unconventional casting methods. For example, he spotted the budding actor Irfan Khan, who played the character 'Fatka' in the film Chillar Party, on the streets of Mumbai. Chhabra's democratic style of auditioning has previously invited nuisance value from potential actors.
Actor Rajkumar Yadav (now Rajkumar Rao) was chosen to play one of the leads for the film Kai Po Che only on Chhabra's insistence. Rao's talent in the film won him critical acclaim and later Chhabra cast him in Shahid as the leading man.
Known For
Fighter
(2024)
Casting Director
Jawan
(2023)
Casting
Shaitaan
(2024)
Casting Director
Amar Singh Chamkila
(2024)
Casting Director
12th Fail
(2023)
Casting
Bhakshak
(2024)
Casting Director
Chennai Express
(2013)
Casting Director
Article 370
(2024)
Casting
Rang De Basanti
(2006)
Casting Assistant
PK
(2014)
Casting Director
Ittefaq
(2017)
Casting
Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1
(2012)
Casting
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
(2015)
Casting Director
Rockstar
(2011)
Casting
Haider
(2014)
Casting Director
Tiger Zinda Hai
(2017)
Casting
Full Filmography
Production
Rang De Basanti
(2006)
Casting Assistant
Yuvvraaj
(2008)
Casting Coordinator
Love Aaj Kal
(2009)
Casting Director
Trishna
(2011)
Casting
Rockstar
(2011)
Casting
Force
(2011)
Casting
Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana
(2012)
Casting
Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1
(2012)
Casting
Ugly
(2013)
Casting
Shahid
(2013)
Casting
D-Day
(2013)
Casting Director
Chennai Express
(2013)
Casting Director
Kai Po Che!
(2013)
Casting Director
Hasee Toh Phasee
(2014)
Casting
Jai Ho
(2014)
Casting Director
Highway
(2014)
Casting Director
PK
(2014)
Casting Director
Haider
(2014)
Casting Director
Badlapur
(2015)
Casting
Masaan
(2015)
Casting
Parched
(2015)
Casting
Haraamkhor
(2015)
Casting
Shaandaar
(2015)
Casting
Vakratunda Mahakaaya
(2015)
Casting
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
(2015)
Casting Director
Tevar
(2015)
Casting Director
Nil Battey Sannata
(2015)
Casting
Katti Batti
(2015)
Casting Director
ABCD 2
(2015)
Casting Director
Kahaani 2
(2016)
Casting
Te3n
(2016)
Casting
Raman Raghav 2.0
(2016)
Casting
Wrong Side Raju
(2016)
Casting
Zubaan
(2016)
Casting Director
Rocky Handsome
(2016)
Casting Director
Fitoor
(2016)
Casting Director
Tum Bin 2
(2016)
Casting Director
Badrinath Ki Dulhania
(2017)
Casting
Rangoon
(2017)
Casting
Begum Jaan
(2017)
Casting
Gurgaon
(2017)
Casting and Co-Producer
Judwaa 2
(2017)
Casting
Tiger Zinda Hai
(2017)
Casting
Ittefaq
(2017)
Casting
Monsoon Shootout
(2017)
Casting
Bareilly Ki Barfi
(2017)
Casting Director
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
(2017)
Casting Director
Tubelight
(2017)
Casting Director
Raabta
(2017)
Casting Director
Half Girlfriend
(2017)
Casting Director
Mubarakan
(2017)
Casting
The Market
(2017)
Casting Director
Toffee
(2018)
Producer
Hate Story IV
(2018)
Casting
Omertà
(2018)
Casting
Baaghi 2
(2018)
Casting
Mukkabaaz
(2018)
Casting
Lust Stories
(2018)
Casting Director
Sanju
(2018)
Casting Director
Dhadak
(2018)
Casting
Fanney Khan
(2018)
Casting
Bhavesh Joshi Superhero
(2018)
Casting
Soorma
(2018)
Casting
Veere Di Wedding
(2018)
Casting
Laila Majnu
(2018)
Casting Director
Manmarziyaan
(2018)
Casting Director
Helicopter Eela
(2018)
Casting Director
Kedarnath
(2018)
Casting
Race 3
(2018)
Casting Director
Loveyatri
(2018)
Casting Director
Dil Juunglee
(2018)
Casting
Milan Talkies
(2019)
Casting Director
Mere Pyare Prime Minister
(2019)
Casting Director
The Man Who Feels No Pain
(2019)
Casting Director
Notebook
(2019)
Casting Director
PM Narendra Modi
(2019)
Casting Director
Bharat
(2019)
Casting Director
Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna
(2019)
Casting Director
Super 30
(2019)
Casting Director
Chicken Curry Law
(2019)
Casting
Jabariya Jodi
(2019)
Casting
Chhichhore
(2019)
Casting Director
Laal Kaptaan
(2019)
Casting Director
Housefull 4
(2019)
Casting Director
Made In China
(2019)
Casting Director
Ghost Stories
(2020)
Casting Director
Panga
(2020)
Casting Director
Love Aaj Kal
(2020)
Casting Director
Baaghi 3
(2020)
Casting Director
Mrs. Serial Killer
(2020)
Casting Director
Dil Bechara
(2020)
Casting Director
Yaara
(2020)
Casting Director
AK vs AK
(2020)
Casting Director
99 Songs
(2021)
Casting
83
(2021)
Casting
Bob Biswas
(2021)
Casting
Thalaivii
(2021)
Casting
Saina
(2021)
Casting
Chehre
(2021)
Casting
Ajeeb Daastaans
(2021)
Casting
Haseen Dillruba
(2021)
Casting
Dial 100
(2021)
Casting
Kya Meri Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai?
(2021)
Casting Director
Sanak
(2021)
Casting Director
Tadap
(2021)
Casting Director
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
(2021)
Casting Director
Atrangi Re
(2021)
Casting Director
Laal Singh Chaddha
(2022)
Casting and Casting Director
Dhaakad
(2022)
Casting
Jersey
(2022)
Casting Director
Looop Lapeta
(2022)
Casting Director
Bachchhan Paandey
(2022)
Casting Director
Shabaash Mithu
(2022)
Casting Director
Heropanti 2
(2022)
Casting Director
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
(2022)
Casting
Anek
(2022)
Casting Director
Le Musk
(2022)
Casting
Forensic
(2022)
Casting Director
HIT: The First Case
(2022)
Casting Director
Raksha Bandhan
(2022)
Casting Director
Ek Villain Returns
(2022)
Casting Director
Uunchai
(2022)
Casting Director
Dhokha: Round D Corner
(2022)
Casting Director
Goodbye
(2022)
Casting Director
Plan A Plan B
(2022)
Casting Director
Tara vs Bilal
(2022)
Casting
An Action Hero
(2022)
Casting Director
Govinda Naam Mera
(2022)
Casting Director
Kuttey
(2023)
Casting
Tiger Nageswara Rao
(2023)
Casting
Faraaz
(2023)
Casting Director
Mission Majnu
(2023)
Casting Director
Shehzada
(2023)
Casting Director
Selfiee
(2023)
Casting Director
Bheed
(2023)
Casting Director
Afwaah
(2023)
Casting Director
Gaslight
(2023)
Casting Director
Tarla
(2023)
Casting Director
Satyaprem Ki Katha
(2023)
Casting Director
Lust Stories 2
(2023)
Casting Director
Bawaal
(2023)
Casting Director
Jawan
(2023)
Casting
Jaane Jaan
(2023)
Casting Director
Sukhee
(2023)
Casting Director
Tumse Na Ho Payega
(2023)
Casting Director
Dono
(2023)
Casting Director
Farrey
(2023)
Casting Director
The Ladykiller
(2023)
Casting Director
12th Fail
(2023)
Casting
Amar Singh Chamkila
(2024)
Casting Director
Shaitaan
(2024)
Casting Director
Bhakshak
(2024)
Casting Director
Bastar: The Naxal Story
(2024)
Casting Director
Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay
(2024)
Casting Director
Article 370
(2024)
Casting
Fighter
(2024)
Casting Director
The Sabarmati Report
(2024)
Casting Director
Patna Shuklla
(2024)
Casting
Housefull 5
(2025)
Casting
Acting
Hijack
(2008)
Shakeel
Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana
(2012)
Lovely
Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2
(2012)
Nawab (Shamshad's Partner)
Vakratunda Mahakaaya
(2015)
Passenger in Bus
Raman Raghav 2.0
(2016)
Loan Shark
Te3n
(2016)
Tariq (Estate Agent)
Spilling the Beans
(2018)
Anoop Ji
Jawan
(2023)
Pappu (Hindi)
Directing