Actor Anil Kapoor, who is playing Mumbai's retired encounter specialist ACP Isaque Bagwan - a real life character - in Sanjay Gupta's "Shootout At Wadala", feels that when you have a reference for a role, it makes an actor's job interesting.

"Somewhere I feel that it becomes less challenging. Sometimes you do such a character that does not have any reference point, so it becomes difficult. But like there are certain incidents which the story is based upon, " the 56-year-old said Wednesday in an interview here.

"Besides, this film is inspired from the book 'Dongri To Dubai', few incidents have been taken from that book. So as an actor or director or filmmaker, your work becomes interesting. I would not say it becomes easy, but somewhere we enjoy doing that, " he added.

Anil further says he got a lot of support from Isaque while playing the role.

Isaque was the one who shot gangster Manya Surve in November 1982, the first registered encountered by Mumbai police.


"In this film, I play ACP Isaque Bagwan. He is a real life person who did the first encounter in Bombay. So my character is inspired from him. I got a lot of support and help when I was doing this film. Before starting with the film, I met him, we talked and I enjoyed playing this role, " Anil said.

Directed by Sanjay Gupta, "Shootout At Wadala" also stars John Abraham, Tusshar Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Kangna Ranaut and Mahesh Manjrekar and is slated for a May 1 release.