Aniruddha, however, did not divulge the name of the actor who rejected the role of Meenal Arora.
At a discussion in the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival last evening, director of the 2016 film was speaking on how it was made.
"I had narrated the story four and half years back to director-producer friend Shoojit Sircar on-board a flight and he was hooked to the idea. A popular female actor had refused to do the character which was ultimately given to Taapsee Pannu," Aniruddha said.
"A film happens when everyone starts believing in the subject. We see so many things around us everyday, but do we react?" Aniruddha said.
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'Pink' is a powerful statement on moral policing and the mindset of the country where men and women are judged by a different yardstick.
The director said his first film 'Anuranan' made in 2006 also talked about moral policing. "Actually social element is an integral part of a film," he said.
"I remember how a 20,000 strong crowd showered their affection to the film crew in Bangladesh which had been released in both Kolkata and Dhaka. Buno Haansh will remain as much favourite to me as Pink," he said.
To a question, he said a film maker cannot always work with the expectation that his or her every film will be a national award winner.
"You cannot always keep working that every product will meet the same quality benchmark in terms of expectations. That every work should click, that every film will be a potential national award winner," Aniruddha said.
"I had shifted to Mumbai from Kolkata as I was a little bit pained over the present situations but I won't elaborate," he said.