/> Prosenjeet's character of the suave sexually-dynamic politician in Dibakar Bannerjee's Shanghai is inspired by Shekhar Kapoor to the extent of being modelled on the senior actor director.

Apparently Dibakar's team dug up pictures of Shekhar's looks and clothes 15-20 years ago and used them as direct reference points for Prosenjeet's physical appearance in Shanghai.

Says Dibakar, "The fact is, when I wrote the role of the fantastically sexy and suave politician it was Shekhar Kapoor I had in mind. But we needed someome in his 40s. So while we wisely chose Prosenjeet for the politician's role it was Shekhar Kapoor we had in mind. "

Dibakar admits Prosenjeet in Shanghai walks, talks and dresses like Shekhar. "Shekhar had this absolutely crazy dress sense which worked perfectly for him.

He would mix ‘n' match the most unlikely clothes and colours and still look dynamic. We took out Shekhar's sartorial adventures from the internet and we used pictures to design Prosenjeet's clothes. "

But more than the clothes it's Shekhar's attitude that's been imbued in Prosenjeet's character.

Says Dibakar, "When Shekhar talks he doesn't have to raise his voice to be heard. There's an inherent magnetism and wisdom to his personality that we've used for Prosenjeet's character.

I think his character will give to the middleaged women in the audience a new sex symbol. He is a younger Shekhar Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. "

Adds Prosenjeet, "That's how Dibakar has visualized my character. We sat down together and thought of a look for me. We thought of the way Shekharji used to look 15-20 years ago.

Women of a certain age would swoon over his suave serene styling and demeanour. He was the thinking woman's sex symbol. I love the idea of being in the same space. But I don't mind being the non-thinking woman's sex symbol either. "