What Would Breaking Bad With Indian Actors Look Like?

Many of us were initiated into the world of streaming and American television through Vince Gilligan's iconic crime drama Breaking Bad. The characters of this show are deliciously twisted and have spawned some unforgettable performances. What if we could adapt this story to an Indian context? We did some wishful thinking and came up with our dream cast for the Indian Breaking Bad.

Vijay Sethupathi as Walter White 

Walter White is a middle-aged, non-descript chemistry teacher with a talent for cooking meth. He puts that to good use and emerges as the scheming and dreaded drug lord Heisenberg. This role requires an actor who is capable of extreme transformation and Vijay Sethupathi is a master in that department. Walter has a 'Dr Jekyll-Mr Hyde' kind of personality and we can totally see Sethupathi switch from a simpleton to a menacing gangster with ease. 

Vijay Deverakonda as Jesse Pinkman

Jesse Pinkman is immature, impulsive, erratic, explosive and also very, very loveable. He might not be the sharpest tool lying around, but what he lacks in IQ, he more than makes up with his sensitivity and an ability to just keep loving. Vijay Deverakonda has arguably already played a version of Jesse. He's our angriest young man. Look into his eyes and you'll also see the sweetest little boy.

Tabu as Skyler 

The nagging wife, the cheating wife, a fiercely, protective mother—and a survivor of the horrors of being the wife of Walter White. We can't think of anyone else other than Tabu who can pull it all off.

Anil Kapoor as Hank 

A morally solid DEA agent leading the local police's War on Drugs, Walt's brother-in-law Hank is also a friend, uncle and father-figure to his son Walter White Jr. His positive presence brings a lot of good cheer in a show that goes into an increasingly dark zone. Anil Kapoor represents these qualities by default.

Richa Chaddha As Marie 

Apart from the fact that Chaddha will look awesome in any shade of purple, she's one of our rare actors that can pull off a behavioural trait like kleptomania without alienating us from the character. Add her subtle comic abilities to the mix and you'll find a desi Marie whose depth we may doubt, but never her loyalty.

Fahadh Faasil as Saul Goodman

Fahadh Faasil as Saul Goodman was an easy fit. Think about it, wasn't his performance in Trance a great audition for this part? We already know that he can play a hustler with a good heart who does shady things to get ahead. Plus, who doesn't want Fahadh to get his own spin-off show! 

Irrfan as Gus Fring 

Unlike the other thugs on this show, Gus is a calm, composed and sharp businessman. Even when he's mercilessly killing someone he doesn't break his statesman-like composure. The menace in his eyes is what gives him away. Irrfan would nail this part.  

Naseeruddin Shah as Mike Ehrmantraut

Mike is one of those dormant volcanoes that make for perfect postcards. Efficient and clean without a hint of fuss, his moral compass is either extremely foggy or completely broken. But beneath the cold and clinical facade is a man just trying be a better grandfather. Emotionless is a really tough emotion… one that Shah can ace like no one else can.

Manoj Bajpayee as Tuco Salamanca

Think Sardar Khan minus the buffoonery, plus the sudden bursts of violent madness (Satya, Kaun, AKS), Manoj Bajpayee is our man to play the short-fused Mexican drug kingpin Tuco—with his own 'Tight Tight Tight yeah' moment after he tastes Walt's pure stuff for the first time.

Rajkummar Rao as Todd Alquist

A low-level worker in the criminal world eager to prove his worth to the bosses, Todd is both dumb, white trash and sincere and awkward: someone who shoots a kid without remorse and also keeps his jar of Tarantula. Only Rajkummar Rao can tap into the uncanniness of Todd and make it his own.