Phata Poster Nikhla Hero: Is it going to be a game changer for Shahid?

Phata Poster Nikhla Hero

New Delhi: Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, who has worked with Shahid Kapoor for the first time in 'Phata Poster Nikhla Hero', says this film will be a huge new break for him. Shahid, who has been a part of films like 'Ishq Vishk', 'Vivah', 'Jab We Met', 'Kaminey', has been lying low at the box-office courtesy movies like 'Milenge Milenge', 'Mausam' and 'Teri Meri Kahaani'. But Santoshi believes 'Phata Poster...' will be his new success. "Unfortunately, his previous films may not have worked, but he is a wonderful actor and he is very hardworking. He has done a good job in the film. I think this will be Shahid's huge break. He will be successful with this film," said Santoshi.

The movie also features actress Ileana D'Cruz, who had made her Bollywood debut with 'Barfi!'. Talking about the unusual casting, the director said: "Initially we finalised Shahid for the film. I have never worked with him before, but I have really appreciated his work. I thought this is one film which he has not done before...it is full of comedy." "As far as Ileana is concerned, that time 'Barfi!' had also realeased and I really liked her work in the film. 

I thought it will be a fresh casting." Ileana D'Cruz, who is acting with Shahid Kapoor for the first time, feels Shahid's chocolate boy look works in favour of their film and that it is also the reason for their great on-screen chemistry. "On-screen chemistry has really worked for me and Shahid, as it is a fresh pairing. Shahid is playing such a wonderful role. He has got chocolate boy kind of image, but I think it has really worked for our film. He is playing different shades of everything," opined Ileana. "There is immense amount of action in the film, but there is also comedy, drama and so much of romance as well. I think it has worked so well for us and people will see me second time after 'Barfi!', so I believe it will work," she added. 

In the film, Shahid's character Vishwas Rao always aspires and dreams of becoming an actor. "Just like my character Vishwas Rao says in the film, 'ek din mere bhi bade bade poster lagengey', I also used to have such dreams before becoming an actor and me too used to think 'me too will have such huge huge posters' (mere bhi ek din itne bade bade poster lagengey)," Shahid said in an interview. Before foraying into acting in 2003, the 32-year-old worked in quite a few music videos and commercials. 

Later he joined Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts and was seen as a dancer in 1999 released film 'Taal'. "I still remember when I used to stand beneath the hoardings and think 'whether I will have such huge posters or not' (mere itne bade posters hongey ya nahin?). So, definitely I too have been through those moments. I too have gone for the auditions," he added. The film is going to face a stiff battle from 'The Lunchbox' which has been appreciated at several film festivals.