Mumbai: filmmaker Anup Kurian says veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has given one of his greatest performances in "The Blueberry Hunt".
The film centres around a recluse, locally known as "Colonel", played by Shah, who lives with his large German Shepherd dog in a lush green deserted estate on the high altitudes of Vagamon, Kerala.
Kurian says the "Ishqiya" actor has portrayed a never-before-seen character in the thriller.
"He is an unbelievable actor. This will be considered one of his greatest performances in cinema. How often do you see Naseer sir with a gun, in an unusual character like this? This will be a new experience even for the audience to watch him like this. He will surprise everyone," Kurian told PTI.
"The Blueberry Hunt" focuses on how the Colonel's plantation of a high potency variant of marijuana - Blueberry Skunk - gets ready for harvest but things go haywire at the last moment.
Kurian, who had earlier directed the Atul Kulkarni starrer critically acclaimed "Manasarovar", said the 66-year-old actor performs in his own space and was happy that Shah agreed to do the film for free.
"Naseer sir acts in his own space, there were many occasions where I didn't say cut because he had gotten into his flow, which I didn't want to interrupt. I was thinking to keep the film at one-hour thirty minutes, but in the end we have a one hour fifty five minute movie," he said.
"He agreed to do the film for free. He loved the story I narrated to him. I had decent money to produce and Naseer said let's do it. Since I produce films myself, it takes me a lot of effort to find funds, do a decent campaign and release it," Kurian said.