Recasting Bablu Pandit: Gurmmeet explains choice

‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ continues its strong box office run, with worldwide collections reaching Rs 333.29 crore by Day 27. As the film keeps drawing audiences, director Gurmmeet Singh has shared insights into how it was made, from key creative choices to the actors' input in shaping their roles and the origins of its standout moments. He spoke about casting Jitendra Kumar as Bablu Pandit in place of Vikrant Massey, and about Mohitt Maalik's take on Birju Lohar, reflecting on how the characters have changed over the years.

Gurmmeet Singh on recasting in 'Mirzapur: The Movie'

Speaking to SCREEN about the recasting and how it shaped the narrative, Gurmmeet said, “I think the beauty about a make-believe world or doing something creative and fiction is that as an artiste, one always needs to have choices, right? As creators, as actors, what’s the one thing that we all desperately want? It’s to have choices and to be able to make that choice. And it’s a good lesson to learn that everyone needs to be able to follow what their heart is telling them to do.

No story, no character, no journey is bound down by anybody, right? The show will always move forward, and that’s the beauty we can take forward from this, that with Jitendra coming in, it brought a new energy into the show. It also gave the film its own identity.”

How 'Mirzapur: The Movie' reimagined Bablu

The director went on to explain that the change in casting gave the team a chance to rethink Bablu and place him closer to the centre of the story. He said, “It gave it its own life, which is very different from the show, which is what we always wanted anyways.

So it became a blessing in disguise. We were able to reimagine Bablu and give him more agency. The Bablu in the show was almost aiding his brother and was a victim, never having agency or an agenda of his own.

But this Bablu is playing the game. He’s the one driving the narrative. So, I think that’s a great learning we’ve taken away, to always use your setbacks to your advantage, because that’s what creativity is meant to do. Look ahead, and with the film doing as well as it has, I think it only opens up so many doors for us.”

'Mirzapur: The Movie' release date and cast

‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ hit theatres on September 4, with a cast that includes