Aditya Sarpotdar Reveals Casting Insights For Kakuda's OTT Success

Kakuda OTT release date: Aditya Sarpotdar is thrilled as his recent projects have gained significant attention. While Munjya broke box office records, Kakuda is drawing considerable interest on ZEE5.

At Filmibeat, we enjoy engaging with individuals who have shaped Indian cinema. We had an exclusive conversation with Aditya Sarpotdar, the director of the moment.

Aditya shared that he began working on Kakuda during the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021. He also recounted an interesting anecdote about casting for the film.

Q- You have a huge star cast - Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh, and Saqib Saleem. Were they your first choice?

"I started making Kakuda during the second pandemic in 2021. From the beginning, it was meant for an OTT release. Given OTT's nature, visuals are presented in a storytelling format. Whether it's OTT, theater, or TV, storytelling style is crucial," Aditya said.

"For casting an OTT film, I had clear choices. I had worked with Riteish before; he's a good friend and has impeccable comic timing. He's a great actor and our excellent working relationship made him perfect for this character," he added.

"For Saqib, we held auditions and he surprised us. I had seen him in a few films and recognized his potential. His screen presence and acting skills brought significance to the film," Aditya explained.

"The female lead's role is unique and interesting. We didn't reveal all aspects of her character in the trailer to surprise viewers when they see Sonakshi in the film," he noted.

Guiding Actors to Bring Characters to Life

"To prepare actors, getting the language right was essential as it bridges Hindi dialects authentically. Language, costumes, and overall look were crucial for authenticity," Aditya stated.

"We worked extensively with actors to develop their characters by spending time in local areas where the story is set. Arriving early helped us understand the environment and interact with locals for insights," he continued.

"My dialogue writer played a significant role in helping actors master the language and develop their characters," Aditya mentioned.

Building a Fantastical World

"Despite horror comedy's instinctive nature, my vision was supported by both director and actors. They followed my instructions to build our fantastical world," Aditya said.

"Much of this world-building came together in post-production; actors understood and followed my cues on set accordingly," he added.

Kakuda is available for streaming on ZEE5. Viewers can download the film in full HD if they have a paid subscription to the platform.