Anek is a strong reminder of how far Hindi movies have come. Only eight years ago, Priyanka Chopra Jonas was cast to play Manipur-born boxer Mary Kom in the eponymous movie. Cut to 2022: director Anubhav Sinha took a much-needed step when he roped in north-eastern actors — including Nagaland-born Andrea Kevichüsa — for prominent roles in the drama that focuses on the strife in the north-east. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has made a strong case for representation with the Ayushmann Khurrana-led film. “Anubhav sir saw Andrea’s pictures, and asked me to find her. It took us a while to find and audition her,” says the casting director. After Kevichüsa, Loitongbam Dorendra and others were finalised, Chhabra and his team did several workshops with them as part of prep. 

Mukesh Chhabra