Shraddha Kapoor built her early career on a foundation of sweet romantic tales, musical blockbusters, and gentle, lovable characters. Audiences and critics alike perceived her as a soft, approachable star, making her 2017 portrayal of Haseena Parkar—the sister of notorious underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim—a dramatic and unexpected career pivot.
Director Faces Initial Backlash for Casting Decision
Director Apoorva Lakhia has now opened up about the significant resistance he encountered when he first announced Shraddha Kapoor for the role. In a recent interview with Rediff, Lakhia revealed, “When I cast her, everyone abused me! When the first look came out, everyone said genius!” He elaborated that the industry and public were stunned by his choice for such a dark, intense, and powerful character. Many initially doubted her ability to physically and emotionally embody the real-life crime figure, but the release of the first promotional look completely reversed public opinion, turning criticism into praise.
The Genesis of the Film Project
Lakhia shared the origin story of the film, explaining that he was first approached to direct a project centered on Dawood Ibrahim himself. “I was actually offered a film on Dawood Ibrahim, but I felt the subject was done to death,” he stated. The producers then suggested he meet Dawood's sister, Haseena Parkar, and her family. This meeting provided a fresh narrative perspective. Lakhia became fascinated by the untold layers and complexities of Haseena's life journey, from a young bride to a formidable figure in Mumbai's underworld, which ultimately became the film's core focus.
Strategic Casting Based on Age Span
The director clarified that his decision to cast Shraddha Kapoor was primarily a practical one, driven by the character's extensive age range rather than her established star image. “The reason we cast Shraddha is because Haseena’s journey starts when she was 17 years old, when she got married,” Lakhia explained. “(If not Shraddha) I would have had to cast someone for the age of 17-25. Shraddha would easily fit in as a 75-year-old as well. That was predominantly my thought process. Casting her was just a fluke.” He believed Kapoor possessed the unique ability to authentically portray the character across multiple decades without requiring a second actress for younger scenes.
Sonakshi Sinha Was the Original First Choice
Interestingly, Shraddha Kapoor was not the initial actress considered for the part. Lakhia disclosed that Sonakshi Sinha was his first choice, as she naturally fit the physical posture and demeanor of the older Haseena Parkar. “When we started shooting with her, we had hired another heroine to play the earlier (younger) version. But then, the dates didn’t work out,” he recounted. Faced with scheduling conflicts and eager to proceed with a script he believed in, Lakhia made the pivotal decision to approach Shraddha Kapoor, leading to the recasting that defined the final film.
Shraddha Kapoor's Emotionally Demanding Experience
For Shraddha Kapoor, stepping into this role represented a significant emotional and professional challenge. In a 2017 interview with IANS, she described the part as “emotionally challenging.” During the film's trailer launch event, she further expressed, “It's difficult for me to express my experience in words for Haseena Parkar. This has been a very exciting and challenging role for me. To play a role of such a strong person for this true story, it has been a very emotionally challenging experience.” The role marked a stark departure from her earlier work and required deep immersion into a complex, real-life narrative.
On the professional front, Shraddha Kapoor was most recently seen in the horror-comedy sequel 'Stree 2', continuing to diversify her filmography beyond her romantic beginnings.
