Anurag Kashyap helped his Shagird co-star Nana Patekar portray a character inspired by a real-life encounter specialist, the late Rajbir Singh for Tigmanshu Dhulia's Shagird.
Incidentally, Kashyap had met Rajbir earlier and helped define the character of the encounter specialist for Nana. A source informs, "He met the encounter specialist some years back and was inspired and awestruck by him.
He'd explain his style and demeanour to the veteran actor, helping him to get into the skin of his character seamlessly."
Anurag, best known as a director and his cameos, will be seen in a full-fledged role for the first time in Shagird.
Tigmanshu says, "Yes I am aware that Anurag had earlier met a few cops from crime branch of Delhi including Rajbir Singh. But that was much before our shooting of the film and not in connection with our film."
"Nana Patekar plays ACP Hanumant Singh in the film. We did a lot of our research for this character. His role incorporates several nuances noticed in Delhi police," he signs off.
RAJBIR WHO?
Rajbir Singh joined Delhi Police as a Sub-Inspector in 1982 and had 56 encounter killings to his name. A winner of five medals, including the President's Police Medal for Gallantry, Singh was involved in the investigations into the Parliament and Red Fort attack cases. He was shot dead three years ago.