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Deepika Padukone signed opposite Shahid Kapoor for Heer And Ranjha

Deepika Padukone signed opposite Shahid Kapoor for Heer And Ranjha

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, November 3, 2010 - 14:01 IST

The news can now be told. After having cast the teenage heartthrob Shahid Kapoor as the 'Ranjha' in his next film titled Heer And Ranjha, director Sabbir Khan has pulled off a casting coup by roping in Deepika Padukone as 'Heer'.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Sabbir explained, "Once I finished scripting, I felt that the Heer's part needed somebody who is young and dynamic, as it's totally an author backed role. At the same time, that person should have vulnerability as well as emotional depth. With so much in mind, I just couldn't see anybody beyond Deepika for the role, as I feel that she is one of the finest female actors amongst the Gen-Next's brigade."

Sabbir also added, "Casting this pair together was due to the fact that, this was one pair which was everybody's unanimous decision. To have as Deepika as Heer and Shahid as Ranjha, the film is nothing short of being fantastic. Everybody is excited to see the pair together!"

Since it's a romantic story being retold, music will play prominence in the film. Talking about the music of Heer And Ranjha, Sabbir reveals, "Music is indeed a very integral part of this film. And I am so very happy to have Pritam on board for it. There are 6 songs in the film. The core of the music will be romance... music that will depict that it's a love story, at the same time it'll be contemporary. The music of this film will surely have lots of soul with a lot of modernity."

The shooting of Heer And Ranjha will begin in April 2011.

Ranbir Shahid Kapoor heading for face off over visit to Pak

Ranbir-Shahid heading for face-off over visit to Pak

Will Ranbir Kapoor be willing to shoot in Pakistan? Or will Shahid Kapoor bite the bait? That's the question bothering The Reluctant Fundamental-ist director Mira Nair.

The director arrives in Mumbai next week to decide on the hero, depending on whom she can convince to shoot in Pakistan.

Past cast hiccups

Says a source, "Mira is no stranger to casting hiccups. For The Namesake, her first choices for the lead were Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee. But Rani didn't want to play Abhishek's mother. The roles finally went to Tabu and Kal Penn."

Historical grudge

Mira's first choice for the lead role in The Reluctant Fundamentalist was Ranbir Kapoor. Says the source, "RK was interested but the minute Pakistan was mentioned, his parents recoiled.

Rishi still remembers how hard his father, the late Raj Kapoor, tried to get permission to shoot in Pakistan for his Indo-Pak love story Henna but never got it in his lifetime.

His son Randhir later directed the film but even he couldn't shoot on

location and had to make do simply with an actress belonging to that country."

I'm available

Continues the source, "Shahid is busy with his father's Mausam but is keen to meet Mira and work out the details. Going to Pakistan is not such a problem for him. Even though his parents would

object, he can convince them."

The twist comes with Ranbir showing a renewed interest in the Mira Nair flick, in keeping with his policy of avoiding run-of-the-mill themes and stories.

The director confirms from New York that she's flying down to meet the two, "I am in discussions with both Ranbir and Shahid. But all decisions can be taken only when I meet them in person next week."