Hirani casts Saif Ali Khan in place of SRK

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Monday, 26, November, 2007

According to the buzz Saif Ali Khan has been approached for Rajkumar Hirani"s next, which is based on Chetan Bhagat"s novel, Five Point Someone. Vidhu Vinod Chopra will produce the film. Says a source, “Initially, Shah Rukh Khan had been approached to do the film, which is based on the lives of three friends who join the Indian Institute of Technology. But because of the disagreement between Chopra and Shah Rukh SRK opted out.

So many options

While they were still casting, Hirani met Ranbir Kapoor first at the Sawaariya premiere and then when Ranbir dropped in at Hirani"s office but that was all. Hirani hadn"t spoken to Ranbir about the film at all and it was just a casual meeting. The buzz about Ranbir signing the film wasn"t true. Abhishek Bachchan was also considered."

Feeling Saif

Who"s next? The source adds, “Hirani has met Saif and spoken to him. They are finalising the script and also locking the dates. Saif and Vidhu have worked before on Parineeta and Eklavya so they share a good rapport.

Saif also suits the role of one of the three IIT-ians. Right now Saif, Raju and Vinod are just discussing various factors like the script. If everything works out then Saif will do the film."

Saif who is currently shooting in Bangkok for Tashan remained unavailable for comment.

However, when contacted a spokesperson from Vinod Chopra Films says, “We haven"t approached anybody. We are still in the process of finalising the script and only when it is ready, will we start casting for the film. Mr Chopra will then make a formal announcement for both Raju Hirani and Ram Madhwani"s Talisman, which already stars Amitabh Bachchan."