The
crucial
and
much-delayed
casting
of
the
second
heroine
opposite
Ranbir
Kapoor
in
Anurag
Basu's
Barfee
is
finally
done.
It's
Telugu
star
Ileana
D'Cruz
who
starred
in
the
blockbusters
Pokiri
and
Kick
who
will
play
the
other
female
lead
opposite
Ranbir
in
Barfee.
For
a
while
it
was
Asin,
the
original
choice
for
the
role
who
was
almost
back
in
the
project.
Apparently,
the
price
factor
didn't
work
out.
That's
when
Anurag
Basu
who
has
an
eye
for
new
talent
(he
discovered
Kangana
Ranaut)
happened
to
see
Ileana's
photographs.
Says
a
source,
"Anurag
showed
the
pics
to
Ranbir
Kapoor
who
felt
Ileana
had
the
same
delicacy
and
grace
as
Deepika
Padukone.
He
immediately
approved
of
Ileana.
Things
were
finalized
within
days.
Anurag
met
Ileana
and
her
mother
and
explained
the
role
in
Barfee
and
also
that
Priyanka
Chopra
plays
the
other
part."
While
Siddharth
Roy
Kapoor
of
UTV
who
are
producing
Barfee
said
the
other
female
lead
in
Barfee
will
be
announced
shortly,
Anurag
Basu
confirmed
Ileana's
presence
in
the
film.
Interestingly
Ileana
is
the
third
South
Indian
actress
after
Asin
and
Deepika
to
be
offered
the
same
role
in
Barfee.
Anurag
intends
to
put
Ileana
through
rigorous
voice
and
diction
coaching
before
facing
the
camera.
Says
a
source,
"Since
Ranbir
plays
mute
and
Priyanka
plays
a
woman
often
lapsing
into
incoherence,
it
is
very
important
that
Ileana
speak
clear
and
correct
Hindi.
That
was
the
prerequisite
for
her
signing
Barfee."
Story first published: Monday, December 13, 2010, 16:27 [IST]