At a recent event for her upcoming film The Buckingham Murders, Kareena Kapoor Khan found herself briefly taken aback when the name “Shahid” was mentioned. Her reaction was instant, with her expressions showing surprise. However, it wasn’t about her ex-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor, as some might assume. The reference was actually to Hansal Mehta’s film Shahid.
Kareena, who not only plays the lead role in The Buckingham Murders but also co-produces the film, was attending the trailer launch alongside director Hansal Mehta. This project marks their first collaboration. During the event, a journalist praised Hansal for his previous work, particularly highlighting his critically acclaimed film Shahid. The reporter mentioned, “We’ve seen your track record with films like Shahid, which is a National Award-winning film. This murder mystery (Buckingham Murders) also deals with a sensitive issue, and that’s why I mentioned Shahid. How difficult was it for you both on a script and director level?”
For those unfamiliar, Shahid was released in 2013 and starred Rajkummar Rao as the titular character. The movie was based on the life of Shahid Azmi, a lawyer and human rights activist who was assassinated in 2010. The film received critical acclaim and went on to win two National Awards, with Rajkummar Rao winning Best Actor and Hansal Mehta winning Best Director at the 61st National Film Awards.
Meanwhile, The Buckingham Murders is gearing up for its release this month. The film had its premiere at the MAMI Film Festival last year, where it received a positive response. Kareena stars in the lead role, and the movie features a number of international actors in key roles.