Look test becomes a new prerequisite for Bollywood to cast actors

If you’re wondering how Bollywood has finally been getting its ‘look’ right, you have Hollywood to thank for it. All big production houses are now taking their time to get the lead characters’ look right first instead of jumping to cast actors.

Following Sridevi’s demise, Madhuri Dixt replaced the late actress in the film Kalank (earlier titled Shuddhi). But, it’s not as if she stepped straight into Sridevi’s shoes. Madhuri, too, had to undergo a look test first. She had tweeted at the time “Arrived at the sets of #Kalank with @karanjohar for the look test...”

One of Amitabh Bachchan’s look tests

Earlier this year, Amitabh Bachchan underwent a look test for his new film. Bachchan had to try out 12 different facial expressions. “Prepping and doing look tests for my next film. It’s a multi-starrer. Er, sorry, it’s a multi-faced entertaining high-octane drama extended by hilarious comedic interludes that ride the most bizarre riddles of music,” he had said. Incidentally, Bachchan had to take a look test for Karan Johar’s Brahmastra along with Ranbir Kapoor. And, Ranbir had to undergo multiple look tests for his upcoming biopic on Sanjay Dutt.

“The entire team of YRF’s Thugs of Hindostan including Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh have had to give look tests. When it comes to period films or even fantasy films, the look becomes crucial. So, different looks are tried out and the best one used,” says a trade source. The difference, however, is that look tests happen in Hollywood before the actors are cast.

Aamir was the first actor to give importance to all his characters’ look. “My character in the film was 55 years old. That is how I look in most of the film. There is a flashback sequence for which I had to lose 35 kg and get back to 60 kilos when I play a wrestler myself,” Aamir says.

Be it the handlebar moustache for the Ketan Mehta film, Mangal Pandey, or chopping off his hair and chiselling an eight-pack for Ghajini or sporting a different crop and facial hair for Dil Chahta Hai, Aamir is known to give his characters the most authentic look possible. As for playing a collegian in 3 Idiots, the actor lost his beefed-up Ghajini weight and put on eight kg.