Claim: Shahid Kapoor starred in the Indian crime drama Haider.

Haider is a 2014 Indian crime drama film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj , and co-written by Basharat Peer and Bhardwaj . It stars Shahid Kapoor as the titular protagonist , and co-stars Tabu , Shraddha Kapoor and Kay Kay Menon . Irrfan Khan appears in an extended special appearance . The film is both a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet and an adaptation of Basharat Peer 's memoir Curfewed Night , set amidst the insurgency-hit Kashmir conflicts of 1995 and civilian disappearances . Haider , a young student and a poet , returns to Kashmir at the peak of the conflict to seek answers about his father 's disappearance and ends up being tugged into the politics of the state .   Haider is the third installment of Bhardwaj 's Shakespearean trilogy after Maqbool -LRB- 2003 -RRB- and Omkara -LRB- 2006 -RRB- . The film was screened at the 19th Busan International Film Festival , and released worldwide on 2 October 2014 to wide critical acclaim , and garnered attention from the media due to its controversial subject matter . The direction , performances of Kay Kay Menon , Tabu and Shahid Kapoor , screenplay , film score and editing received praise and garnered several accolades .   Haider was the first Indian film to win the People 's Choice Award at the Rome Film Festival . Among several awards and nominations in India , the film won five National Film Awards : Best Male Playback Singer , Best Dialogue , Best choreography , Best Costume Design , and Best Music Direction .