Shahid Kapoor-starrer Haider became the first Indian film to bag People Choice Awards at the Rome Film Festival.
Undoubtedly, a huge achievement for director Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid who has played the title role. The actor who is currently shooting in the UK had tweeted, “1st festival 1st win. Too much. Wowzaaaa. People’s choice in the main category at the Rome film festival... A first for an Indian film. Proud and humbled.”
Sources say that the actor, who was present at the festival, had interacted with the audiences who showered high praises on him. “A group of cinema buffs told Shahid that he had understood and etched the character on screen beautifully. They enthusiastically spoke about how in the past renowned actors like Kenneth Branagh, Mel Gibson and Ethan Hawke, who are known for their acting strength, have essayed the role of Hamlet and Shahid has delivered a performance at the same level as them,” says a source.
Back home, the chances of his winning the National Award are also very high. In fact, there is word of him being the only choice for the National Awards this year. Shahid has already got a phenomenal response for his desi version of Hamlet and it will go down as his career-best performance so far. Set in Kashmir, the film is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and completes Vishal’s triology after Maqbool (2003) and Omkara (2006).
