New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS): Filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, currently waiting for the release of his forthcoming film "Kaun Kitney Pani Mein", says he is "happy" at casting Radhika Apte whom he termed a replica of award-winning actress Nandita Das.

"I wanted someone with raw look for the role of Paaro like Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil and Nandita Das. I am very much happy that Radhika is a replica of Nandita Das, like her beauty, her knowledge of rest of the things is always right," Panda said in a statement.

Talking about the film, the National Award-winning filmmaker says he wanted a lead like Radhika, who can fit into the culture of Odisha.

Panda added that he had noticed the actress in "Shor In The City", where he liked her but it was after seeing her "acting in one Bengali film, I decided that only Radhika will be playing Paaro's character".

Set against the backdrop of Odisha, "Kaun Kitney Paani Mein" travels between two villages fighting over a water reservoir since a couple of decades as it aims at making viewers aware of the impending water crisis and sanitation in rural areas where 70 percent of India’s population resides.

The film, which also stars Kunal Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and Saurabh Shukla, is slated to release on Friday.