In this very special episode, I sit down with my dear friend Romil Modi, the game changing casting director of films like Laapata Ladies, Newton, Judgemental Hai Kya, Sherni, etc. I’ve known him for over a decade. Our conversation is not just about auditions, actors, and the craft of casting. It’s a deeply personal reflection on resilience, reinvention, and the unpredictable journey of finding your voice in the film industry.

From his days as a florist in Mumbai to becoming the first Indian casting director associated with a Grand Prix-winning film at the Cannes Film Festival, Romil’s journey is one of quiet grit and unshakable vision. If you’ve loved the casting of Laapataa Ladies, All We Imagine As Light, or Newton, chances are you’ve already admired his work without even realizing it.

We talk about everything from how actors should approach auditions, why real performances matter more than social media numbers, and how casting—when done with integrity can change not just a film, but a life.

It’s a candid, sometimes funny, often moving conversation between two friends, an actor and a casting director, who’ve grown together in an unpredictable industry.

For aspiring actors, film lovers, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider looking in—this one’s for you.

Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.

The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.