Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed reacts to Alia Bhatt drawing inspiration from her Zindagi Gulzar Hai role

Pakistani actress Sanam Saeed has responded to Alia Bhatt's revelation that she took inspiration from the popular Pakistani actor's hit TV show "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" to prepare for her role in the upcoming film "Kalank", saying she was "tickled pink". The 34-year-old actor took to Twitter Monday reacting to a PTI interview in which Alia said director Abhishek Varman told her to watch the drama, which starred Sanam and her "Kapoor & Sons" co-actor Fawad Khan.

Sanam tweeted a link to the story and wrote, "@aliaa08 if this isn't made up news, I'm tickled pink. Best wishes," The Pakistani actor featured as the independent minded, pragmatic Kashaf Murtaza opposite Fawad's entitled, suave Zaroon Junaid in the show. How the two polar opposite protagonists grow to love each other as life partners while dealing with class and ideological differences is the story.

"Zindagi Gulzar Hai", aired on Pakistani channel Hum TV from 2012 to 2013, also emerged a huge hit in India when it premiered on Zindagi channel in 2014.

Talking about her preparation for the role, Alia Bhayy had said, "I watched a lot of old films like 'Mughal-E-Azam' and 'Umrao Jaan' to get an understanding of grace and body language. (And) I had to clean my Hindi as I am speaking Urdu (in the film). Abhishek asked me to watch 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai'. The character of the girl (Kashaf played by Sanam Saeed) in the show is very much how Roop will deal with the situation. She has responsibility on her shoulders so she is not always a happy person. She is vulnerable yet strong. It is difficult (to bring so many) layers - unhappy, vulnerable and strong to a character. Abhishek kept saying that I should be irritating."

The film has an ensemble cast that also includes Varun Dhawan, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur and Kunal Kemmu. Alia said working on a multi-starrer like Kalank was a learning experience for her.