Kareena Kapoor on rejecting ‘Ram-Leela’: I confess that I’m mad

Grapes are sour? Or plain honesty? Kareena’s dig about giving films to other actresses has a ring of truth in it. She began her career with this spirit of generosity after all. She was the original choice for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai before it ended up launching Ameesha Patel in Bollywood. Kareena also famously left Kal Ho Naa Ho and,in the process,gifted Preity Zinta with a role she will be most remembered for. Of course,Preity also got to return the favour when she didn’t do Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met — a film and role which turned around Kareena’s career.

When we talk of star power we somehow always end up talking in terms of tangibles — money,endorsement deals,TV show deals and more deals. But the true power that a star possesses is his/her decision to say yes or no. A ‘yes’ makes the star’s career and a ‘no’ makes someone else’s career. It’s all about the choice. And it’s a loaded choice.

Currently,the casting of Ekta Kapoor and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Milan Talkies is deeply contested. Said to be Tigmanshu’s “first out-and-out romance” the film was announced last year with Imran Khan and Priyanka Chopra. After the debacle of Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara,Imran walked out of the project famously declaring,“I am very happy with my decision,it allows me to sleep peacefully at night.” There was strong buzz that Shahid Kapoor has replaced him which was denied by Shahid. Now there is buzz that Varun Dhawan might be approached for the film. We’ll have to wait and see who makes it to the final cast list.

At the end of the day,a film that an actor didn’t do should not become his/her calling card. The one who does the film owns it. Bottomline: Deepika acted in Ram-Leela and Kareena in Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.

harneet.singh@expressindia.com