'Bobby Jasoos' is a tribute to detective Karamchand: Vidya Balan

Mumbai: Actress Vidya Balan, who plays a detective in her upcoming film 'Bobby Jasoos', said her character in the movie is a tribute to the popular Indian detective Karamchand, played by noted actor Pankaj Kapur.

'Karamchand' was a popular Indian detective TV series telecast in the 1980s. It was one of India's first and biggest detective series.

"Karamchand was probably the only one on the horizon until one got exposed to detective films later. We have even paid tribute to Karamchand and his assistant 'Kitty' in one of the dialogues in the film.

"During the workshop (for the film), I remember acting like Karamchand. When I met Pankaj Kapur, I wanted to say, 'Bobby Karamchand ki chhati aulad hai', but I did not," the 36-year old actress said in a statement.

Vidya recently met Kapur at his birthday party hosted by his wife Supriya Pathak.

'Bobby Jasoos', slated to release on July 4, is set in Hyderabad and shows Vidya speaking Hyderabadi language fluently.

Directed by Samar Shaikh, the film also features Ali Fazal, Supriya, Tanvi Azmi among others.