The shooting for the yet-untitled film will kick off around the first week of September. As with most Bollywood projects of late, the debate has once again been over who the leading lady will be. And though a formal decision hasn't been made yet, it seems that Katrina Kaif might just have landed the role. This will be her third film with Ranbir (after Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani in 2009 and Raajneeti in 2010).
"Neither Imtiaz nor (producer) Sajid Nadiadwala are willing to talk about it yet, but in all likelihood, Katrina is confirmed. Both the director and producer feel that she fits the bill perfectly. Things aren't on paper yet, but detailed discussions have already taken place. Katrina also seems willing to star in the film," a source reveals. With upcoming projects outnumbering the top female actors in Bollywood, insiders also feel that the makers are left with little choice. "Ranbir would just have worked with Deepika Padukone (in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani); Anushka Sharma stars opposite him in Bombay Velvet; Priyanka Chopra is likely to be busy with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Mary Kom biopic," adds the insider.
As for Katrina, she's presently got her hands full with Dhoom:3, the shoot of which is underway, and the forthcoming Knight And Day remake (with Hrithik Roshan). "By September, Katrina will have finished shooting for both the films. Imtiaz is also presently busy with Highway's pre-production (it goes on the floors around January-end). In September, he is likely to announce the cast for this film," the insider says.
Incidentally, Nadiadwala is producing both Imtiaz's projects. By the time his film with Ranbir starts, Nadiadwala will have wrapped up Anurag Kashyap's Bombay Velvet and Abhinav Kashyap's Besharam. Imtiaz and Nadiadwala remained unavailable for a comment.