The 2014 film Mastram is a Hindi-language biographical drama that explores the life of an aspiring writer who reluctantly becomes a famous pornographic author in the 1980s. Directed by Akhilesh Jaiswal, the movie provides a fictionalized account of the anonymous author behind the popular pulp fiction "Mastram" books sold at North Indian railway stations. Verified Lead Cast
The film's primary cast features actors known for their work in Indian theatre and the National School of Drama (NSD):
Rahul Bagga as Rajaram (Mastram): He plays the lead role of a small-town bank clerk with literary dreams who adopts the pseudonym "Mastram" to find success in erotic writing.
Tara Alisha Berry as Renu: Making her Hindi film debut, she portrays Rajaram's naive and supportive wife. Supporting Cast and Crew mastram movie 2014 cast verified
The supporting cast includes several character actors who bring the 1980s setting to life: Istiyak Khan: Plays the role of Rajaram's friend.
Aakash Dahiya: Portrays Bharti, the young guy at the printing press. Vinod Nahardih: Plays Mr. Purohit. Aishwarya Mehta: Featured as Bhabhi (Maakhan's wife). Rajinder Sharma Nanu: Portrays Maakhan. Director & Writer Akhilesh Jaiswal Screenplay Akhilesh Jaiswal and Gunjan Saxena Producers Sunil Bohra, Sanjeev Singh Pal, and Ajay Rai Cinematography Gavemic U. Ary Music Yo Yo Honey Singh and Saurabh Kalsi Movie Summary and Context
Released on May 9, 2014, the film was produced by Bohra Bros Productions with a budget of approximately ₹6 crore. Unlike the later 2020 Mastram web series starring Anshuman Jha, the 2014 film focused on the "pain beneath the porn," depicting the internal struggle of a writer whose success is tied to a pseudonym he can never publicly claim. It received a positive critical reception from critics like Subhash K. Jha, who praised its "meditative melancholy". The 2014 film Mastram is a Hindi-language biographical
The female lead, Tara Alisha Berry, plays Nisha, the object of Mastram’s affection and the muse who inspires his most famous stories.
The film’s authenticity comes from its peripheral characters. Here is the rest of the confirmed roster:
Several unofficial sources incorrectly list actors like Sunny Leone, Sherlyn Chopra, or Mallika Sherawat in the 2014 film’s cast due to confusion with other adult-themed films of that era. None of them appear in Mastram (2014). The film does not feature any mainstream or adult film stars in cameos. Verification: Berry’s agency confirmed her role in 2014
While the story revolves primarily around these three characters, the film features a few other notable performances that add depth to the narrative:
The director, Akhilesh Jaiswal, made a bold choice by casting relatively fresh faces. If a major star had played Mastram, the audience might have had preconceived notions about the character. Rahul Bagga, being a newer face, allowed the audience to focus on the story rather than the star power.
The chemistry between Rahul Bagga and Tasha Berry felt authentic, capturing the dynamics of a small-town marriage in the 80s perfectly. They didn't look like glamorous movie stars; they looked like real people, which was the essence of the film.