Why is casting Disney's Aladdin proving this hard?

Disney is struggling to cast the male lead for its live-action Aladdin reboot. Director Guy Ritchie is conducting a rigorous process with already over 2,000 actors auditioned for the main roles. They want to avoid whitewashing the film, and also find someone with musical talent. The studio was reportedly initially interested in Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed for Aladdin... but many are pointing towards the treasure trove of Bollywood for their answer to a perfect fit. The public is frustrated with the inappropriately lengthy casting process. About 75 percent of film actors in 2014 alone were white, according to a study by the University of Southern California. Will Smith is already slated to play Genie, and filming is set to begin in August.