Published By: Sayan Paul

India’s First Film ‘Raja Harishchandra’ Released Today in 1913 — The Fascinating Casting Story You Didn't Know

Casting was the hardest part of making 'Raja Harishchandra'. Why? Read on to learn that story.

According to experts, we’re slowly heading towards a time when one person can make an entire film from the comfort of their home—much like how books are written. But now, imagine going back to 1913. Cinema was still finding its feet in the West, and in India, it was an entirely alien concept. Yet, someone dared to dream. That someone was Dadasaheb Phalke—the man who made India’s first feature film, 'Raja Harishchandra'. Of course, he built everything from scratch, taught himself filmmaking, imported equipment from abroad—you name it, he did it. But arguably, the hardest part of the entire process was casting. There were no "film actors" in India back then. And worse, at that time, acting wasn’t seen as a respectable profession in India.

(Image Credit: Bollywoodirect)

The film premiered on April 21, 1913, and was released theatrically on May 3—exactly 112 years ago today. As we mark this milestone, let’s revisit the fascinating casting story that’s dramatic enough to be a film in itself.

The Actors Hunt: Ads and Awkward Auditions

Phalke had returned from London after learning filmmaking in 1912, and was ready to bring his vision to life with 'Raja Harishchandra'. However, India wasn't quite ready for him, especially in the field of casting.

He set up his ramshackle studio in Dadar, Mumbai, and decided to find his stars the old-fashioned way: newspaper ads. “Wanted: Handsome actors for a moving picture!” he announced, probably expecting a flood of talent. Instead, he got a parade of hopefuls who knew everything but acting. "Most of them were drunkards or people who had nothing to lose," Phalke later shared in an interview. Hence, he added a savage twist to his next ad: “Ugly faces need not apply.” Okay, please don't judge him. Judge the time, maybe.

The auditions were a comedy of errors. One guy probably thought 'Raja Harishchandra' was a wrestling match and showed up flexing. Another might’ve recited poetry so badly it made Phalke crave silence. “I was ready to act in the film myself,” Phalke grumbled, as noted in a 1917 Navayug article. Desperate, he ditched the open-call chaos and turned to theatre companies, where real talent hid. After some time, he finally chose Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, a Marathi stage actor with the regal vibe, for the role of King Harishchandra.

 

(Credit: Bollywoodirect)

The Queen Conundrum: No Women? No Problem!

Casting for the king, Harishchandra, was still easy. The real challenge was to find a woman who would play Queen Taramati, Harishchandra’s devoted wife. Back then, acting was considered so scandalous for women that they would faint at even the suggestion. Phalke put out more ads, this time begging for “good-looking women” to audition. Four women soon showed up, but he wasn’t impressed. Again, he tweaked the ad: “ONLY good-looking women need apply.” Two more auditioned but bailed after two days. Then came a young woman who rehearsed for four days, and Phalke thought he had hit the jackpot—until her ‘master’ stormed in, threw a tantrum, and dragged her away.

In a last-ditch effort, Phalke ventured into Bombay’s notorious Grant Road in Kamathipura, hoping to persuade someone to join. The women there either demanded salaries higher than Phalke’s entire budget or, in one gloriously absurd moment, asked him to marry them! He was already married, so we can guess his answer. However, just when all seemed lost, he was sipping tea at a restaurant when he spotted a young man with delicate, almost ethereal features. His name was Anna Salunke, a cook earning Rs 10 a month. Phalke’s eyes lit up like Diwali fireworks. “If I can’t find a queen, I’ll make one!” he declared. He offered Salunke a raise to Rs 15 a month, and just like that, a cook became Queen Taramati. A man playing the queen? In 1913, that was pure genius. Salunke’s performance was so convincing, he later played both Rama and Sita in Phalke’s 1917 film 'Lanka Dahan'. Talk about range!

 

(Credit: Plumeria Movies)

The Kid Crisis: The Birth of India’s First Child Star

Now for Rohitashva, the royal couple’s son, Phalke needed a kid who could handle forest scenes and a dramatic “death” on screen. He auditioned several boys, but parents were horrified. “My son, dying in a film? NO!” they likely shrieked. Phalke, running out of options, looked at his own seven-year-old son, Bhalchandra, and thought, “Well, he is free and won’t say no.” Just like that, Bhalchandra Phalke became India’s first child actor (screen). But the gig wasn’t all glory. While shooting near Pune, Bhalchandra tripped on a rock, bashed his head, and started bleeding. The crew freaked out, yelling to rush him to Bombay. Phalke, ever the cool-headed dad, grabbed a first aid kit and patched him up. “Back to work, kid!” he probably said. Bhalchandra recovered and earned his place in history.

 

(Credit: Film History Pics)

Now, The Covert Crew: “It’s a Factory, We Swear!”

With Dabke as the king, Salunke as the queen, and Bhalchandra as their son, Phalke’s major cast was complete. But there was one last hurdle: the idea of films itself was so taboo that his 40-person crew had to lie about their jobs. Phalke told them to say they worked in a ‘factory’ for a guy named Harishchandra. Imagine the confusion: “What do you make in this factory?” “Uh… moving pictures?” Awkward. And when they shot outdoor scenes in a Pune village, the locals saw prop swords and thought a real battle was brewing. The village Faujdar arrested the crew, refusing to believe their ‘filmmaking’ excuse. Phalke had to stage a fake scene—without film in the camera—to prove it was all pretend. The Faujdar let them go, probably muttering, “City folks are bonkers.”

 

(Credit: The Silent Era)

And that's how the casting of 'Raja Harishchandra', India's first full-length feature film, happened. It was a rollercoaster of rejection, ingenuity, and sheer luck. Released on May 3, 1913, the film changed entertainment in India forever, proving that even the craziest dreams can come true. So, here’s to Dadasaheb Phalke - The King of Indian cinema!

References:

Raja Harishchandra - Wikipedia

Dadasaheb Phalke - Wikipedia

The Making of ‘Raja Harishchandra’, India’s First Feature Film - The Quint

106 Years of Raja Harishchandra: Firsts in Indian Cinema You Probably Didn't Know About - India Today

Making Of Raja Harishchandra: When Dadasaheb Phalke Cast A Man As A Woman! - Her Zindagi

And others.