30-year-old newbie plays Ranbir Kapoor's mom

He is 27 and she is 30. Yet newcomer Nikhila Trikha clinched the part to play Ranbir Kapoor's mother in director Prakash Jha's film Raajneeti which releases this Friday.

The reason Nikhila landed the role is her striking facial resemblance to Ranbir. Jha was apparently very particular about roping in an actress who looked like Ranbir's mom. After auditioning and rejecting many hopefuls, he zeroed down on Nikhila even though she had no acting experience and is just three years elder to Ranbir.

"When Nikhila auditioned for the part, I instinctively knew she was right for the part although she has had no acting experience." Jha is quoted as saying by a news agency.

Even Ranbir Kapoor, who is very finicky about who plays his onscreen mom, gave his thumbs up when he saw Nikhila.

In Raajneeti, Nikhila's character ages from that of a young mother to an old lady whose son (Ranbir) returns from the US to carry forward the political legacy of the family.