Kookie Gulati: Sheebaji, Seemaji can turn any story around

Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha

Visfot may be centred on leading men Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, but director Kookie Gulati knew that the women characters were key to driving the narrative. As soon as writers Hussain and Abbas Dalal developed the story set in the bustling streets of Dongri, the director was certain about casting Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha in the supporting roles.

Kookie Gulati

Gulati believed only the senior actors could bring the fierceness that the parts required. "Sheebaji and Seemaji are the kind of actors who are able to turn any story around. I love them as performers. So when we were casting, I had them in mind for specific characters. They play quintessential women from Dongri, so they have a menacing gait. Their presence conveys more than the dialogues. We needed actors who can bring that aura on screen," he explains.

The thriller, backed by Sanjay Gupta and Bhushan Kumar, also features Krystle D'Souza and Priya Bapat. Gulati, who helmed The Big Bull last year, says it was a conscious decision to rope in strong women actors in the ensemble cast. "The men might be doing the action in the film, but these ladies pack a punch every time they are on screen."