Anurag Kashyap Explains Why He Replaced Ranveer with Ranbir in Bombay Velvet

Post by : Mina Rahman

Director Anurag Kashyap has revisited a defining and difficult choice from his career — the casting change on his 2013 noir drama Bombay Velvet. The film, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, was a high-profile project that struggled with delays, ballooning expenses and ultimately underperformed at the box office.

Initial casting intent: Ranveer Singh

Kashyap has confirmed that his first preference for the role of Johnny Balraj was Ranveer Singh. At the time, Ranveer was an emerging actor with a handful of credits, and his early audition left a strong impression on the filmmaker. Yet in an industry cautious about new faces, many insiders were sceptical of Ranveer’s potential as a leading man; he was often described as overly energetic, a trait some labelled a risk.

Budget pressures and the decision to change leads

As pre-production costs climbed, Kashyap found himself under practical and commercial pressure. He sought guidance from established producers and peers, including Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, who advised that a better-known star would secure broader audience interest and justify the investment. Faced with mounting financial stakes and widespread industry consensus, Kashyap agreed to recast the lead role with Ranbir Kapoor — a move he says took him more than a year to reconcile with personally.

Aftermath: Bombay Velvet and Ranveer Singh's ascent

Despite its scale and cast, Bombay Velvet failed to match expectations and left Kashyap in a period of reflection that reduced his directorial visibility for some time. In contrast, Ranveer Singh went on to build a major career, earning acclaim and box-office success with films such as Ram-Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018). His previously criticised exuberance became a defining asset.

Ranveer most recently appeared in Singham Again and is slated to star in Dhurandhar later this year.

Kashyap’s account highlights how financial realities and industry advice can reshape creative choices in mainstream cinema. While Bombay Velvet did not deliver the expected outcomes, the project remains an instructive episode in the trajectories of both the filmmaker and the actors involved.