get_file_content not working for https

Question

I am using php and google's new CSE in my website . The URL for request is like https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch/v1?key=INSERT-YOUR-KEY&cx=017576662512468239146:omuauf_lfve&q=lectures

The connection is https and file_get_content() is getting failed. How can i get it working?
Since i need to host the site on some external web-hosting servers, I am in need of solution which don't alter php configuration file or work with default options found on most of web-hosting sites.