Arjan Bajwa’s ‘Guru’ Role Was Promised to Be Huge — Then It Vanished

Actor Arjan Bajwa recently disclosed details about his audition process for the 2007 film Guru, directed by Mani Ratnam. Bajwa initially auditioned for the role of Shyam Saxena, which was ultimately given to R. Madhavan. Despite positive feedback from co-writer Anurag Kashyap, Arjan Bajwa was informed that Madhavan had been cast, which left the actor disappointed.

Following the replacement, Arjan Bajwa was invited to audition for a different role in the film. During this audition, Mani Ratnam personally recorded Bajwa’s performance and reportedly praised his work. Bajwa was told by Kashyap that the new role would be significant and span the character’s life from age 28 to 68.

However, Arjan Bajwa revealed that the role was considerably diminished during production. Many scenes initially written for the character were never filmed, resulting in a much smaller on-screen presence. Bajwa expressed that he was “hurt” by this change but acknowledged that such decisions are part of filmmaking.

Arjan Bajwa Reflects on the Filmmaking Process

While disappointed, Bajwa recognized that directors often make creative decisions that may affect actors’ roles. He stated that differences in vision between the director and the actor are common and that such experiences are part of the industry.

Background on Guru and Its Cast

Guru starred Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role, with prominent actors Aishwarya Rai, Vidya Balan, and Mithun Chakraborty in supporting roles. The film, co-written by Anurag Kashyap, is regarded as one of Mani Ratnam’s notable works.