Kareena Kapoor had recommended Fardeen Khan for Govind Nihalani’s Dev, the actor shared on the occasion of the film’s 20th anniversary on Wednesday.

The actor, who recently returned to acting after 14 years for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Netflix web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, posted a long note on Instagram to express his gratitude to Kareena with whom she shared the screen for Dev. “20 Years of Dev. It was my third film with @kareenakapoorkhan and it was she who recommended me for the role, and I will always be grateful to her for that,” he wrote.

Fardeen went on to say that Dev, also starring Bollywood stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and the late Om Puri, was a huge endorsement for him at the time. “Being signed by Govind Nihalani for a film with legends like @amitabhbachchan and Om Puri was a huge endorsement for any actor. Govindji was highly respected and was known for his careful direction and powerful storytelling.”

The actor also shared a video showcasing his character delivering intense dialogues about religion and communal division. The video includes scenes featuring his Dev co-stars Kareena, Amitabh and Om Puri.

Recalling his “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to work with Amitabh, Fardeen said the veteran actor’s work ethics has left an indelible mark on him. “But the greatest take away for me from DEV was getting to share the screen with Amitji, an actor I idolize. His life and most amazing career have had a profound influence on Indian cinema and has left an indelible mark on not just me but on every Indian.”

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a true honour and an absolute privilege to work with him, making it one of the highlights of my career,” he signed off.

Apart from Dev, Fardeen and Kareena have worked together in Fida (2004) and Khushi (2003). The actor will next be seen in Mudassar Aziz's Khel Khel Mein, which features Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk and Aditya Seal in key roles.