Mythri Movie Makers has issued an important clarification regarding casting calls, urging the public to only rely on announcements made through its official handle. The well-known production house emphasized that any casting call will only be made via their official X handle, @MythriOfficial. They strongly request everyone to refrain from engaging with individuals or agencies claiming to represent their films.
Additionally, Mythri Movie Makers alerted the public about a fake Instagram account impersonating Mr. Naveen Yerneni. They stressed the importance of vigilance and encouraged everyone to report any misleading profiles.
This issue of fake casting agents is not unique to Mythri. In November, Raaj Kamal Films International, under the renowned actor Kamal Haasan, clarified that they had not hired any casting agents for their films. They stated, “This is to clarify that Raaj Kamal Films International has not hired any casting agents for any of our films. Please do not trust any emails, messages and social media posts regarding this. Legal action will be taken against any unauthorized use of our name.”
Several other prominent production houses have faced similar problems this year. In August, Neelam Productions, led by acclaimed director and producer Pa Ranjith, warned actors about fake casting calls, asking them to verify all auditions and casting alerts through their official social media handles.
Neelam Productions issued a notice, declaring, “Beware of FAKE AUDITION CALLS in the name of Neelam Productions. Please check for casting calls and audition alerts only from our official social handles. Thank you!” They also shared a poster clarifying that various audition calls were counterfeit and should not be trusted.
Actors and production companies have consistently encountered issues with fake casting calls. Tamil actor Sibi Sathyaraj, known for his role as Kattappa in the blockbuster ‘Baahubali’, previously alerted the public about a fake casting call circulating in his name. He clarified that he was not associated with the individual behind the posting nor the project mentioned.
Sibi’s warning highlighted a bogus casting call for a film directed by Sakthi Saravanan, seeking actors from ages 25 to 50, along with child artistes aged 10 to 15 to send their profiles to a listed number.
Earlier this year, Sreyas, director of Wunderbar Films, cautioned against miscreants issuing fake casting calls under his name, asserting that any casting calls made in his or his production house’s name were “absolutely fake and baseless.”
He stated, “Hello, This is to bring to everyone’s attention that any casting calls under my name or Wunderbar Films Pvt Ltd is absolutely false and baseless. +91 7598756841 is not my number and is being misused with my picture.”
Additionally, Prince Pictures, a reputable production house, had previously issued warnings against fraudsters claiming to offer acting roles in their upcoming film Sardar 2 for money or favors.
The rise in such fraudulent activities has become a pressing concern for many in the film industry.