Naseeruddin Shah is known to be very choosy about his roles in Bollywood. But the thespian made an exception for friend Saurabh Shukla’s Pappu Can’t Dance Saala that hits theatres today.

The story goes: Shukla wanted Naseer to play the all-important cameo in his film but the actor didn’t have
available dates. So, Shukla personally spoke to him and made sure that he got the script too. And as luck would have it, Naseer loved the storyline. And although his schedule was packed, he took out two days for Pappu Can’t Dance Saala and reached Varanasi for the shoot.

Naseer“Naseer and Saurabh have known each other for a long time now. So, initially, when Naseer said he was busy, Saurabh was really sad. But later, he was ecstatic that Naseer managed to take out time,” says an insider from the unit. When contacted, Saurabh sounded happy about it too. “You know, even though Naseer saab has a small role in my film, it’s still a very significant role. And I can’t tell you how happy I am that he agreed to do the film.”

Pappu Can’t Dance Saala is being touted as a light-hearted comedy where Neha Dhupia has been paired opposite Vinay Pathak. The story revolves around a man who comes to Mumbai from Varanasi, and finds it difficult to adjust to a place away from his city that has a rich cultural heritage. Pappu Can’t Dance Saala is being seen as Shukla’s first “full-on masala entertainer” after his directorial ventures like Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi? (2009), I Am 24 (2009) and Chehraa (2005).