Acontest titled ‘Kaun Banega Poonam Ka Hero’, organised to find a lead actor to be paired with Poonam Pandey in Helen, attracted over 25,000 people, says the film’s producer Suresh Nakum.

“The kind of response that has come for the contest of ‘Kaun Banega Poonam Ka Hero’ has been nothing less than mighty pleasing for the team. In fact, I have never seen such kind of a response for any Bollywood movie before the film goes on the floors.” He said that “over 25,000 followers of Poonam Pandey have uploaded videos and audio clips to try and play the male lead”.

The hunt required the contestants to make a two-minute audition video, during which they were free to enact a movie scene or dialogue of their choice to the best of their ability. Poonam herself invited the candidates through a video in which she says she is looking for a male lead to star opposite her.