Ever since director Ram Madhvani announced Neerja with Sonam Kapoor in the lead, a section of the media was sceptical about Kapoor's capacity to play such an important heroic figure. However, Sonam Kapoor appears to have shut her critics up with her rather convincing portrayal of Neerja Bhanot in the theatrical trailer of the film.
Director Ram Madhavani, in an interview with Catch revealed that no one but Sonam Kapoor could essay the character on screen. The director explains,
"Sonam has an external resemblance with Neerja, but I didn't choose her for that. I chose her because I knew this was an actress who could play an interior kind of role and an external kind of role. I have seen Sonam Kapoor's range as an actor. She has been playing a range of characters from Delhi 6 to Khoobsurat to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo."
Madhvani, who is known for various globally recognised advertisements, also revealed that Sonam Kapoor has an elephant's memory and understands different kinds of cinema.
Also Read: 7 facts you need to know about Pan Am hero Neerja Bhanot, ahead of the film"Sonam Kapoor comes from the theatres and I have a process of taking those long shots while shooting. She has an elephant's memory and she understands the language I speak and the kind of cinema I like to make. There were many reasons why she was the apt choice for the film," said Madhvani
Neerja releases on 19 February 2016.