EXCLUSIVE: DYK, Janhvi Kapoor Auditioned For Govinda Naam Mera? Shashank Khaitan Reveals Why She’s Cast Opposite Varun Dhawan In Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

Filmmaker Shashank Khaitan spoke about casting Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra in his upcoming film Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. He shared how each actor became part of the project and why they were chosen for their roles.

Shashank Khaitan On Casting Janhvi Kapoor

Shashank Khaitan explained that while he usually doesn’t think of any actor while writing, Varun Dhawan was an exception. Varun had already shown interest in the idea, so Shashank had him in mind from the start. Once the main characters, Tulsi, Vikram, and Ananya, were written, he began thinking of the right actors to play them. He revealed how he created Dhadak with Janhvi Kapoor, and she also auditioned for Govinda Naam Mera, which starred Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, and Kiara Advani. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, he said, “Janhvi Kapoor had once auditioned for a film of mine called Govinda Naam Mera. Our dates didn’t work out, but she had given a phenomenal audition, and it was a funny audition. In this character, I wanted someone who could be very vulnerable and yet at the same time, there’s a wild, mad side to the character.”

He added, “I realised that Janhvi has never played a character like that. So for me, it was very exciting to kind of tell her that, you know what? We did, we made a Dhadak together, which is a very different film. Yes, now let’s make a Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari together, which is going to be a wildly different movie from that.”

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Talking about Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra, Shashank said that casting director Mukesh Chhabra helped a lot. He revealed, “Our casting director was Mr. Mukesh Chhabra. I was chewing his brains, and to whom are the right people? Whom do we go to? And we met a few people, but not from a perspective that we were clear, but just the vibes, how they, or also how they react to the characters. So I think when I met Sanya and Rohit, both individually, for the first time. I think from my end, it struck me immediately like they’re the perfect guys to play these characters.”

He also mentioned supporting actors like Maniesh Paul and Akshay Oberoi, saying their presence added even more depth and fun to the film. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, the film also stars Rohit Saraf, Sanya Malhotra, and Maniesh Paul, amongst a stellar cast. It is produced by Dharma Productions and Mentor Disciple Entertainment. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is all set for a worldwide theatrical release on Dussehra, October 2, 2025.

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Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shashank Khaitan Opens Up About Dulhania 3; Reveals Why The Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt Starrer Is Taking Time To Materialise

Manisha Karki

Manisha has established a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling with over six years of expertise in the industry. With a deep passion for cinema, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage, making it a trusted voice in the entertainment world.