Mumbai, July 10 - Those who've seen 'Kambhakkt Ishq' were surprised to see Vindu Dara Singh resurfacing after such a long time in a fairly substantial role. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala apparently cast him for old friend Tabu's sake.

According to a close friend, for Nadiadwala, casting Vindu was a tribute to Tabu whose family was like his own family once.

'For many years Sajid was not only close to Tabu, he was also very close to her entire family, including her sister Farah and Farah's husband Vindu. So when this role of a goofy Hanuman to Akshay Kumar came up in 'Kambakkht Ishq', Sajid immediately thought of Vindu,' said a friend.

Starring Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor, the action-romance, which has done impressively in its opening weekend, was extensively shot in Hollywood. While Akshay plays a stuntman, Vindu, who is wrestler Dara Singh's son, is seen as his assistant-cum-best-friend.

'We needed someone who was Akshay's faithful Hanuman-like companion and assistant. Vindu immediately came to my mind because he has played Hanuman on television. I wanted someone who was as goofy as Big Moose in Archies and Vindu fitted the bill,' Nadiadwala told IANS.