Anil Kapoor asked Shabana Azmi to dissuade Sonam Kapoor from entering Bollywood

“I remember Anil coming to me and saying make Sonam understand not to take up acting. So that time, I told her she should study and go to a college in London. But later I told her go become an actress. She is like my daughter,” Shabana told reporters here at the trailer launch of “Neerja”.

“Neerja” is a biopic on flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who was murdered while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 on September 5, 1986.

Bhanot became the youngest recipient of the country’s highest peacetime military award for bravery – the Ashok Chakra.

Also read: Pakistan honoured Neerja Bhanot: Shabana Azmi

In the film, Sonam plays the lead role. Shabana essays the role of Sonam’s mother.

“I feel lucky, blessed… Privileged to be part of this film. It’s a great story… The dialogues are too good. It’s a matter of pride to do this film,” the 65-year-old actress said.

Even before the veteran actress shot for this film she had met Neerja’s mother while presenting an award in Neerja’s name.

“When I met her I felt I know her. I have tried to play her with honesty…without any manipulation. She is just the way she looks. She is a special person. It’s sad that she couldn’t watch the film,” she added.

The film is directed by Ram Madhavani and Shabana is all praise for him.

“Javed Akhtar, my husband and I knew Ram since quite sometime. We always used to tell him to make a film. Ram and I both like same kind of films …Our sensibilities connected,” she said.

The film is slated to release in February nexy year.