Veteran actress Rekha was initially roped in to play the character of Begum in `Fitoor`,but she walked out of the project in May 2015 and the role went to Tabu.
`Tabu is one of the few actors who can mould herself according to the character. She is a dream for a director,` Kapoor told reporters in a group interview.
`She never looks into mirror or monitor and always trusts the crew on sets. I am thankful to Tabu who stepped in at the last moment and got into the skin of the character within three to four days,` added the filmmaker.
Kapoor, who has widely shot `Fitoor` in Kashmir, says he was very clear that he wanted to shoot this film in that state.
`Many people told me not to shoot in Kashmir and gave me the option to shoot either in Himachal or abroad, but Kashmir has a different beauty altogether. Dal Lake in Kashmir is something I can't take it away from the film. I was adamant I will make my film in Kashmir,` said Kapoor.
The movie is an adaptation of Charles Dickens classic novel "Great Expectations" and will have Katrina Kaif playing Firdaus while Aditya Kapoor will portray the character of Noor.
The film also stars Aditi Rao Hydari, Lara Dutta and Rahul Bhatt. It will hit theaters on February 12.