Meet the 'Fukrey' gang

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who has helmed successful films like "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Don - The Chase Begins", says all the directors and producers in the film industry have to do 'jugaad' for casting.

Casting is an integral part of the film's process and he says it is "actually one of the most demanding processes, in terms of trying to get appointments, to get time".

"In the whole film industry, all the producers and all the directors have to do 'jugaad' for casting. Nothing can happen without that," the 39-year-old told reporters Wednesday at the launch of the song "Karle jugaad" from his upcoming co-production "Fukrey".

In fact, for his directorial debut "Dil Chahta Hai", he had pulled a casting coup with names like Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Preity Zinta featuring in it.

Casting for the 2001 blockbuster buddy film had been toughest, says Farhan as "I had to wait for long in my life for casting of 'Dil Chahta Hai'".

The film was a runaway hit at the box office and also won a National Award. Farhan became a name to reckon with after its success.

On being asked about the film for which he got the fastest casting, Farhan said: "The fastest ever I have managed to cast anybody for the film I directed was for 'Don'."

"Don" came out in 2006 and featured Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, Boman Irani and Om Puri.

Meanwhile, Farhan has roped in young actors, who are one or two films old, for "Fukrey". Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh, Varun Sharma, Ali Faisal, Richa Chadda, Vishakha Singh and Priya Anand figure in the film.

"Fukrey" hits theatres June 14 and the filmmaker is hopeful the casting will be advantegous for the movie.

In the past, Farhan has been associated in different capacities with films like "Dil Chahta Hai", "Rock On!!" and "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" - all of which have highlighted male bonding.

Asked what intrigues him about it, Farhan said: "I have been asked this a lot. I have wondered why no one asks this question to someone who only makes love stories or love triangles. Why are only male bonding films singled out?"

Farhan spoke at the first look launch of "Fukrey", which he has co-produced with Ritesh Sidhwani under their banner Excel Entertainment.

Sidhwani also said it was not a conscious decision to make films only on male bonding.

"All the stories had different male bonding. This ('Fukrey') is different than those as well. The story attracts you. Not that it is only on male bonding," he said.

Directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, the film stars Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh, Ali Fazal, Richa Chadda, Vishakha Singh and southern actress Priya Anand.

Asked why he is not a part of the film himself, Farhan said: "It is important to cast people who are right for the roles. Given the age and personality (of the characters), they work well with the actors cast. It is important to stay true to that."

Farhan admits he has a connect with "Fukrey" - a term mostly used in north India for useless people. It reminds him of two years of his life when he didn't have anything substantial to do.

"There were two years when I didn't do anything and my mom threw me out of the house. This qualifies as my years of being a 'fukra'," he said.