Nikhil Advani has selected the relatively new and talented actress Anushka Sharma to play the leading lady opposite khiladi Akshay Kumar in his forthcoming flick 'Patiala House'.

But, there is a reason behind picking Anushka over any other top heroines.

The sources informed that the filmmaker has thought in the same lines as Aditya Chopra did when he signed the actress for the film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi starring Shahrukh Khan.

Advani wanted to keep the focus on the male actor Suri.

Nikhil also wants the viewers to concentrate on the role of Akshay Kumar in the film.

Simultaneously, he wanted the characters to look real in the movie.

But, the sources said that the film will offer Anushka a much stronger role than her character in Aditya Chopra's RNBDJ.

Patiala House is reportedly a film with real characters, real emotions and real moments. He will put a tagline with his film as 'A film by Nikhil Advani'. The director wants to thank Aditya for casting Anushka in his film.

The film will also feature veteran actors including Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in vital roles, who as a couple have given hits like Bobby.

Patiala House deals with a second-generation Sikh in London, who sacrifices his dreams to protect the reputation of his father. (With Inputs from Agencies)