1. – Tabu, The Namesake, 2006. India’s only international director, Mira Nair, was in trouble. Her first choice, Rani Mukherjee, had a Bollywood shooting date… Konkona was commited to her actor-director mother Apama Sen’s 15 Park Avenue… And so Tabu saved the day. Brilliantly.
2. – Jiah Khan, Ghajini, India, 2008. No Bollywood actress wanted a supporting role… especially not opposite the suddenly, exceedingly pumped-up Bollywood star Aamir Khan. (Who else would the audience be looking at?). Even Sharma quit as Sunita at the 11th hour.
3. – Tabu, Luck By Chance, India, 2009. Thius time, Tabu wasn’t happy with bv the Bollywood script about Bollywood and started making changes. Director Zoya Akhtar sent for Konkona. Politely.
4. – Mallika Sherawat, Unveiled, India, 2009. American film-maker Bill Bannerman aimed high for his second movie: Aishwarya Rai or Shilpa. Until he saw Mallika in Murder, 2004.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 4