Actress Lara Dutta says that former cricket player Mohammad Azharuddin, on whose life the film "Azhar" is based, is a phenomenal person.
"He (Azharuddin) has tremendously lent his support to the film and has obviously remained very involved. He's an incredible person. Having worked with him over this year, I got to know him. He's quite a phenomenal person," said Lara, who presented Fair & Lovely Foundation scholarships to 200 women here.
Like the trailer suggests, Azharuddin was one of the most successful and most controversial cricket captains of the country because of his accomplishments on the cricket field, match-fixing allegations and relationships.
Lara plays a lawyer in "Azhar", who is hell bent on proving the match-fixing allegations levelled against Azharuddin (played by Emraan Hashmi) in the film.
"The film is releasing and it feels good. People's reactions to the trailer have been very good. I'm excited after having worked very hard in the film. It's a slightly big responsibility as well because it is based on real-life incidences. Hope people go and watch it and like it," she said.
Asked if she anticipates any problem for the film from the Board Of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI), the national governing body for cricket in India, Lara replied in negative, saying "the filmmakers have done a good research on it".
"They have made the film with a lot of care and thought. The film will have a destiny and we'll see what the destiny is when the film releases," she added.
Considering she wants Emraan behind bars in the film, will she also stop him from doing his trademark kissing scenes? "I haven't stopped him. Like I said at the trailer launch, I was saved (from kisses)," Lara quipped.
"Azhar" releases on May 13.