After showing promise in her maiden directorial venture Bulbbul (2020), Qala will be a litmus test of sorts for Anvita Dutt. The Netflix film, slated to drop online on December 1, is keenly awaited for another reason as well — it marks the acting debut of Babil Khan, son of the late Irrfan Khan. Casting for the leading man was proving to be an uphill task for Dutt, until she saw Babil’s audition. “The character of Jagan is special. He is pure, unsullied and vulnerable. When Casting Bay showed me Babil’s audition, I noticed he inherently had those qualities. He stepped into Jagan’s shoes like they were meant for him. 

Anvita Dutt