"I have been wanting to direct a film for the past one year. When I came back from the USA after completing Silver Lining's Playbook, Yamini, the writer of the short film, narrated the concept to me and I thought it is a wonderful story and I wanted to tell it. I decided to direct and produce it," said Kher in a statement.

The cast and crew includes fans of De Niro, who have worked passionately to pay their respects to the 69-year-old actor.

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Anupam Kher (right) directs 'I went shopping for Robert de Niro'. Pic/IANS

'I went Shopping for Robert De Niro' is a story of two girls at the crossroads of their lives and what happens to them on that particular day when they go shopping for De Niro.

Yamini Kshirsagar and Rimal Arora play the lead roles in the film. The pair had actually gone shopping for a gift for De Niro before Kher travelled to Philadelphia to shoot 'Silver Linings Playbook', making the film part autobiography and part fiction.

"With this film we tell the story of millions of people who come to the city of Mumbai to fulfil their dreams. It reminded me of the days of my life when I shifted to Mumbai to pursue my career as an actor.

"Similarly Silver Linings Playbook reminded me of the excitement I experienced when I signed my first film ever and 'I went shopping for Robert De Niro' reminded me of my first days in Mumbai. Nostalgia drove me to be a part of both these stories," said Kher, who is currently riding high on the success of recently released Hindi film 'Special 26'.