`Agneepath` helped Nikhil to convince Rishi for `D Day` role

Mumbai: Rishi Kapoor took everyone by surprise by playing a baddie in `Agneepath` and this helped director Nikhil Advani to convince the veteran actor for yet another negative role in his film `D Day`.

The trailer of `D Day` shows Kapoor clad in suits, silk kurtas, and sporting aviators and a moustache. "When I met Rishiji first and discussed the role, he was like are you mad, I am not doing it. We did a look test, not to convince me but him so that he could get convinced that he can play this role," Advani told reporters here last night. "It was `Agneepath` that helped me convince Rishiji to play this character. The success and the response to his character Rauf Lala (from `Agneepath`) convinced him to do this part in the film," Advani said. Advani previously directed Kapoor in `Patiala House` as a stern family head and the director is happy to present the veteran actor in a negative avatar this time. There has been buzz that the character is modelled on an underworld don. But Advani insists that his film is not inspired by any real-life incident or person. "Our film is fictional. One might feel it is based or inspired from someone or the other but it is not. The film does draw inspiration from our history... What happened during the 1993 Mumbai blasts case and other incidents. It is an action-thriller film," Advani said. The first look of `D-Day` was launched last night in presence of the film`s star cast including Arjun Rampal, Rishi Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Huma Qureshi and Advani among others. The makers have roped in Hollywood stunt directors Thomas Struthers and John Street, who have worked in blockbusters like `Batman Begins`, `The Dark Knight`, and `Inception`. The film is slated to hit theatres on July 19. PTI