Nikhil says the story for 'D-Day' stemmed from a conversation that he had with his driver.
"My film is about the most wanted man in India. The story is about an operation that takes place in Karachi to bring this man back to Indian shores.
"The idea for this movie came from a conversation that I had with my driver while we were stuck in traffic. I was reading about Osama bin Laden being captured and told the news to my driver. He turned to me and said, 'if they can do it why can't we'. That got me thinking," Nikhil told PTI.
But the director, who has been behind films like 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', 'Salaam-E-Ishq' and 'Patiala House', says his film is not inspired by any real-life incident or person.
"Yes, all the fingers point to that person but nowhere in the film I have said that it is about him. The character in my film is completely fictional and a figment of me and my writers' imagination. It is very inspirational that Rishi Kapoor agreed to play such a role," Nikhil said.
"Fortunately, I share a very good relationship with Rishiji and we became very close post 'Patiala House'. When I decided to make this film, I approached him and he had just finished playing Rauf Lala in 'Agneepath'. I think he was in a mood to do a more negative role and said yes."
The film, also starring Irrfan, Arjun Rampal, Huma Quereshi and Shruti Haasan, is slated to hit theatres on July 19.
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