Anurag Kashyap explains casting Monika Panwar as Aaishvary Thackeray’s mother despite small age gap in Nishaanchi

Anurag Kashyap opens about his next film Nishaanchi

For actor Monika Panwar, 2025 is turning out to be a milestone year. Fresh from winning praise for her role in the horror series Khauf, the 31-year-old is now stepping into one of the most challenging parts of her career — playing the mother of Aaishvary Thackeray, who is just a year younger than her, in Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming film Nishaanchi.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Anurag revealed that Monika was the final addition to the cast. While her acting abilities were never in question, the team initially explored older actors for the part. But, he explained, typecasting remains a stubborn hurdle in the industry. “The industry typecasts so much that even a 50-year-old actress does not want to play the mother of a 28- or 30-year-old,” he said.

Eventually, Anurag decided to take a risk by casting Monika. It’s not the first time he has made such a choice.

In Gangs of Wasseypur 2, Richa Chadha famously played Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s mother at just 26.

Reflecting on that decision, Anurag Kashyap shared: “If you cast a young girl, then the consequence is that people put her in a box. This has happened with Richa (Chadha). I have seen her interview where she joked that I ruined her career by casting her as Nawazuddin Siddiqui's mother. She is such a good actress, but the industry never gave her a chance for years to do good roles.”

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Kashyap admitted that he didn’t want Monika to walk into the role unaware of what it might mean for her future. “I warned Monika on the first day. I told her this role goes from age 20 to 50. I had to sit down and tell her what happened with Richa. I gave her the option to say no, but she took it on. She has played this age range so beautifully.”

Nishaanchi features Aaishvary Thackeray in a dual role and also stars Vedika Pinto, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Kumud Mishra in pivotal parts. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios and JAR Pictures, in association with Flip Films, the film is slated for release on 19 September.