When director Aanand L Rai talked about casting Dhanush in 'Raanjhanaa': 'People saw him as odd'

As Dhanush gears up for the release of his latest film, 'Raayan', on July 26, his journey in Bollywood comes under the spotlight once again. The Kollywood star made his Bollywood debut in 2013 with director Aanand L Rai’s 'Raanjhanaa', a move that predated the rise of pan-Indian films. Despite his established fame in the Tamil industry, Dhanush was relatively unknown to the Hindi film audience at that time.

In an old interview with Mashable India, Rai recalled the skepticism he faced when casting Dhanush in 'Raanjhanaa'. In 2012-13, the image of a hero in the North was a six-foot-tall, fair-skinned boy. At that time, Dhanush, despite being a star in the South, was considered an odd choice. According to Rai, his performance proved that no one could be more appealing and fit for that role.


Rai refrained from disclosing the specific criticisms he received about Dhanush, and they then collaborated again for 'Atrangi Re' and 'Tere Ishk Mein'. He also addressed the controversy surrounding 'Raanjhanaa', which was accused of promoting stalking. Rai admitted that he didn't initially recognize the protagonist’s behavior as stalking, explaining that it represented the character's reality in Varanasi, though he acknowledged it was wrong and did not defend it.

Actors Swara Bhasker and Abhay Deol, who played key roles in 'Raanjhanaa', have criticized the film's portrayal of stalking. In 2020, Deol condemned the film's message, noting that it reflects a longstanding Bollywood trope where persistent pursuit is romanticized. He highlighted that this depiction can lead to victim-blaming and contribute to real-life sexual violence, emphasizing that history will view the film unfavorably for its regressive themes.