Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS) Debutant director Anand Rai whose thriller 'Strangers' releases this Friday has an interesting story to tell.

'The script required a kissing scene. I nervously approached my leading lady Nandana Sen and spent some time convincing her. She eventually agreed. How was I to know the objection would come from the other party?'

The film's leading man Jimmy Shergill refused to smooch Nandana. 'He was adamant. He said he wouldn't have done the film if he knew about the kiss. I had no option but to drop it.'

Anand is all praise for his cast. 'Jimmy is among our most underrated actors. For the other leading man's role I needed a man of a few words. K.K. Menon fitted the bill. As for the girl, I needed someone who would look convincing as a girl who has spent all her life in London. Nandana Sen was perfect.'

Rai is quite bewildered by reports that 'Strangers' is based on Alfred Hitchcock's 'Strangers On A Train'.

'I really don't know where that came from. Yes, the film does have strangers as its title and there's a train running through the plot. But beyond this, my film is as close to Hitchcock as Jimmy Shergill is to Jimmy Mistry. Mine is an original story,' the debutant director says.

Anand shot the film entirely in London. 'And not as a touristy city. I've gone into the lanes and by-lanes of London. And unlike other films shot abroad I've even shot the interiors in London.'

Yes, but Anand couldn't get Jimmy to kiss.