Farah Khan's re-union with Shah Rukh Khan has put the long impending project Happy New Year back on track, but the choreographer-turned-director insists that she has not yet decided on the leading lady for the movie.
Farah Khan had planned Happy New Year even before her directorial debut Main Hoon Naa and was preparing to film Happy New Year immediately after Om Shanti Om.
But cracks began to appear between the two friends, after SRK refused to feature in Tees Maar Khan, which was directed by Farah's husband Shirish Kunder. Then in January this year Shirish was allegedly beaten up by SRK at a private party hosted by actor Sanjay Dutt.
Shah Rukh Khan is said to have punched and slapped filmmaker Shirish, as the latter took a dig at SRK's movie RA.One. But Farah's director brother Sajid Khan acted as a peacemaker and two patched up.
Post patch up, Farah and King Khan decided to start work on Happy New Year. Earlier when the film was announced, Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham were confirmed for the movie, while the female lead was likely to be played by Katrina Kaif or Kareena Kapoor.
(Photos: The great thaw: SRK and Farah hug, dance )
Now that the film is back on track, rumours are abuzz that Sonakshi Sinha and Parineeti Chopra are the two latest names that have popped up for the role.
"We are not in talks with them (Sonakshi and Parineeti). We have not approached any one of them yet. I do meet Sonakshi regularly, she is beautiful and lovely. But we have not yet taken a call," Farah told PTI in an exclusive interview.
"Shah Rukh has just come back from London so we need to sit and work out figure out as to who is right for that role. It is a big role and then there is only one heroine in the film," she said.
There were reports that four actors were to feature in Happy New Year including SRK, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham.
About John, Farah said: "We were going to take him that time. But we have not yet met him now. Things just keep coming in newspapers but we have not met anyone of them yet."
Farah Khan is extremely excited about Happy New Year, as this will be her third movie with SRK after two blockbusters - Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om.
"I am very excited. We are hoping to create the magic that we did with our earlier films. We have SRK and Boman Irani in the film and the other cast is not finalised yet. I can't talk much about the project," Farah Khan said.
"There are like four heroes and one heroine. Boman is there in the film. We have SRK, Boman and two more heroes. Boman is a full hero now (referring to Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi where he plays the lead)," she said.
The shooting for Happy New Year will begin from December this year.
Reportedly, the story of Happy New Year revolves around four male friends and how situation forces these friends to participate in a dance competition, but the only problem is that none of them are good dancers. The leading actress will play the role of a bar dancer, who will help these friends to win the world dance championship.
Meanwhile, Farah is all charged up for her debut film as an actor Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, where she is paired opposite Boman Irani.
"I am happy that I did Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi. It's a good thing as when you get an opportunity to do something new and different in life one should do it," she said.
Directed by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis sister Bela Sehgal Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi is the story of a 40-plus unmarried man and a woman.
"If somebody is making a film where the hero and heroine are 40 plus and it is a romantic comedy, is a great thing to do. For a 47-year-old mother of three, married, making a debut as a lead heroine is a big thing. Looking at this it feels that Indian cinema is changing. I think everyone should be proud of this thing," she said.
The film, co-produced by Sanjay Bhansali will release on August 24, 2012.
Farah Khan had planned Happy New Year even before her directorial debut Main Hoon Naa and was preparing to film Happy New Year immediately after Om Shanti Om.
But cracks began to appear between the two friends, after SRK refused to feature in Tees Maar Khan, which was directed by Farah's husband Shirish Kunder. Then in January this year Shirish was allegedly beaten up by SRK at a private party hosted by actor Sanjay Dutt.
Shah Rukh Khan is said to have punched and slapped filmmaker Shirish, as the latter took a dig at SRK's movie RA.One. But Farah's director brother Sajid Khan acted as a peacemaker and two patched up.
Post patch up, Farah and King Khan decided to start work on Happy New Year. Earlier when the film was announced, Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham were confirmed for the movie, while the female lead was likely to be played by Katrina Kaif or Kareena Kapoor.
(Photos: The great thaw: SRK and Farah hug, dance )
Now that the film is back on track, rumours are abuzz that Sonakshi Sinha and Parineeti Chopra are the two latest names that have popped up for the role.
"We are not in talks with them (Sonakshi and Parineeti). We have not approached any one of them yet. I do meet Sonakshi regularly, she is beautiful and lovely. But we have not yet taken a call," Farah told PTI in an exclusive interview.
"Shah Rukh has just come back from London so we need to sit and work out figure out as to who is right for that role. It is a big role and then there is only one heroine in the film," she said.
There were reports that four actors were to feature in Happy New Year including SRK, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham.
About John, Farah said: "We were going to take him that time. But we have not yet met him now. Things just keep coming in newspapers but we have not met anyone of them yet."
Farah Khan is extremely excited about Happy New Year, as this will be her third movie with SRK after two blockbusters - Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om.
"I am very excited. We are hoping to create the magic that we did with our earlier films. We have SRK and Boman Irani in the film and the other cast is not finalised yet. I can't talk much about the project," Farah Khan said.
"There are like four heroes and one heroine. Boman is there in the film. We have SRK, Boman and two more heroes. Boman is a full hero now (referring to Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi where he plays the lead)," she said.
The shooting for Happy New Year will begin from December this year.
Reportedly, the story of Happy New Year revolves around four male friends and how situation forces these friends to participate in a dance competition, but the only problem is that none of them are good dancers. The leading actress will play the role of a bar dancer, who will help these friends to win the world dance championship.
Meanwhile, Farah is all charged up for her debut film as an actor Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, where she is paired opposite Boman Irani.
"I am happy that I did Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi. It's a good thing as when you get an opportunity to do something new and different in life one should do it," she said.
Directed by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis sister Bela Sehgal Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi is the story of a 40-plus unmarried man and a woman.
"If somebody is making a film where the hero and heroine are 40 plus and it is a romantic comedy, is a great thing to do. For a 47-year-old mother of three, married, making a debut as a lead heroine is a big thing. Looking at this it feels that Indian cinema is changing. I think everyone should be proud of this thing," she said.
The film, co-produced by Sanjay Bhansali will release on August 24, 2012.
