Ranbir was always the first choice - Karan Johar

Two weeks from now, Ranbir Kapoor would be going through a litmus test. After a couple of romantic films (Saawariya, Bachna Ae Haseeno), he would now be seen as a part of 'coming of age cinema' in the form of debutant Ayan Mukerji's Wake Up Sid. Apparently, both director Ayan and producer Karan Johar felt that Ranbir was the best choice for the film and they had no hesitation in having him on board the moment film's script was finalized.

"Yes, Ranbir was always the first choice of Ayan", says Karan Johar, who is changing the direction of Dharma Productions by green lighting multiple projects, all of which belong to different genres and have only one of them boasting of him sitting on the director's chair. "Once Ayan conveyed this to me, I too was quite happy and gave him a go ahead. Another reason for being ecstatic with Ranbir on board is the fact that I am really very fond of Chintu uncle and Neetu aunty. So I just called Ranbir up and he was on board; it was as simple as that."

How about Konkona Sen Sharma? Isn't she too unconventional a leading lady, especially in a Dharma Productions setup?

"As I said earlier, we are having a different vision for making films now", says Karan, "I thought that if we cast the film in a conventional manner, then it won't have that special 'X' factor which was so much required for Sid's world. Konkona is unusual and quite unconventional and this is what makes her love story with Ranbir real and honest."

Elaborating on Konkona's role in the film, Karan says, "The film was written in such a manner that the woman out there shouldn't have belonged to the conventional prototype leading lady characterization that one often sees. There had to be an altogether different dynamics that were much required. There are so many different layers and nuances that the character of Ayesha has. Frankly, I don't know of many actresses who would have brought on screen the kind of traits that Ayesha possesses."

Also starring Anupam Kher in an important role, Wake Up Sid has music by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy along with Amit Trivedi. The film would be releasing all over on 2nd October.