Ajay Devgn Was Vikramaditya Motwane's First Choice for a Role in Udaan

Vikramaditya Motwane, renowned for his work in Hindi cinema, recently directed Ananya Panday's CTRL and is best known for his debut film, Udaan, released in 2010. This coming-of-age drama featured newcomer Rajat Barmecha as the lead and established actor Ronit Roy as his father. Interestingly, Motwane revealed that Ajay Devgn was his first choice for the father's role.

During his new conversation with casting director Mukesh Chhabra for Vikramaditya Motwane revealed that he initially planned to cast Ajay Devgn for Bhairav Singh's role while writing the script of Udaan.

Ek face jo tha mere dimaag mein that was Ajay Devgn's face. (I had his face in mind) Even today, I am like should I shouldn't I have gone to him…Main kabhi gaya hi nahin unke paas. Ek toh naa boldega. (I never approached him assuming he would say no). You never know," Motwane stated.

Additionally, Motwane discussed the pressure from producers who suggested casting a star for the lead role. While they appreciated the script, they believed a well-known actor would attract more attention. He recalled considering Shahid Kapoor but felt he didn’t fit the innocent, youthful portrayal needed for the character.

In Udaan, Rajat Barmecha portrayed Rohan Singh, an aspiring poet expelled from school, while Ronit Roy played his strict father, Bhairav Singh. Ram Kapoor appeared as Jimmy Singh, Rohan's uncle who supports his dreams.

Beyond Udaan, Vikramaditya Motwane has directed acclaimed films such as Lootera, Trapped, Bhavesh Joshi: Superhero, and AK vs AK. Before his directorial debut, he worked as an assistant to the celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali on projects like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas. His latest film, CTRL, was released earlier this month.