“He was set on Chhaya Arya, "the film’s director, Abrar Alvi, had informed, way back in 1999. Chhaya was the wife of renowned photographer Jitendra Arya, who in 1948, had moved with his wife from Nairobi to London to pursue a career in photography. He photographed many Indians who visited his home and studio in Chiswick. Perhaps it was there that Guru Dutt met Chhaya. Having grown up in Calcutta (now Kolkata), and fascinated by its culture, he had long been taken by Bimal Mitra’s 1953 novel, Saheb Bibi Golam, and after his 1960 hit, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, decided to bring it to the screen. He was convinced that Chhaya would make a perfect Chhoti Bahu and coaxed the Aryas to move to Mumbai (then Bombay), where he did a photo session with her.