However, the recent revelation by the director of the film clarified that before Sharvari Wagh, Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor were initially considered for the role in this film. Director Aditya Sarpotdar divulged the reasoning behind his casting decisions and the evolution of the film’s narrative in a recent interview.
Sarpotdar told the Indian Express that Alia and Shraddha were the top choices for the lead role in ‘Munjya,’ but he ultimately decided against casting them because he wanted to avoid creating a female-centric film. Instead, he aimed for a story with two parallel narratives, featuring male protagonists. Sarpotdar believed that this approach would resonate more effectively with the audience.
Maharaj | Song – Haan Ke Haan
Explaining his perspective, Sarpotdar said that he didn’t want ‘Munjya’ to be perceived as a female-centric movie. Having two male leads moving in the same direction would make the narrative more engaging for the viewers. Producer Dinesh Vijan supported this vision.
The original script of ‘Munjya,’ written by Yogesh Chandekar, focused on a female protagonist grappling with the dilemma of being in love with her teenage best friend. This storyline was initially integral to the film’s narrative. However, upon joining the project, Sarpotdar found it challenging to connect with the social references in the script, prompting a significant revision.
Elaborating further, Sarpotdar also credited the success of the film ‘Kantara’ for inspiring him to pursue a narrative deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s folklore. He emphasized that ‘Munjya’ draws from the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra, which boosted his confidence in its broader appeal. The positive reception of ‘Kantara,’ with its local and rural essence, demonstrated that audiences across the country could appreciate culturally specific stories.
