Overview
- Comments by Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi, which were published Wednesday, September 23, 2026, called casting notices that ask for actors who 'look rich' absurd and wrong.
- Pratik Gandhi said he lost out on early TV roles for not appearing 'rich enough' and said similar messages still circulate among aspiring actors.
- Director Tigmanshu Dhulia said the industry often equates being rich with being fair‑complexioned and tall and called that assumption a very wrong way to cast actors.
- The remarks came as Warsi and Gandhi promoted Ghamasaan, which is streaming on Zee5, and coincided with mentions of Warsi’s role in Shah Rukh Khan’s King and Gandhi’s upcoming films.
- Industry observers say the debate exposes entrenched colorism and heightism that narrow male casting choices and could prompt closer scrutiny of vague casting language and body‑shaming practices.