Rajat Kapoor’s awkward moment with Naseeruddin Shah

Mumbai, March 9 (IANS) Filmmaker-actor Rajat Kapoor says he faced an awkward moment while casting for his film “Ankhon Dekhi”.

Kapoor’s first choice for the main role was Sanjay Mishra, but when he couldn’t contact the actor, he approached Naseeruddin Shah for the same.

As luck would have it, when Naseer gave his nod for the role, Sanjay too returned and the director found himself in a fix.

“When Sanjay had become unavailable and unreachable, I approached Naseer sir. But fortunately or unfortunately he (Sanjay) came back,” Kapoor told IANS.

Directed by Kapoor, “Ankhon Dekhi” is slated for a March 21 release.

“Meanwhile, Naseer sir had read the script in three days and he liked it and by that time Sanjay had come back and I must say it was a bad timing, terrible timing.”

“But Sanjay was my first choice and I went through a lot of shit. I told Naseeruddin Shah I will give him some other role in the same film, but he said he will not do it. Then I wrote a long mail and he replied nicely, saying Sanjay deserves it and all. But it was an awkward moment.”

A quirky film, “Ankhon Dekhi” revolves around Raje Bauji (Sanjay), a man in his late 50s, living out a dreary but eventful life in a small house in old Delhi, in which he lives with his extended family.