Kareena ka Dostana

After Aishwarya Rai Bachchan refused to do Dostana, the makers thought of casting Kareena, but Abhishek Bachchan put his foot down because of his sour relationship with the Kapoor family and recommended Priyanka Chopra instead.

The times have changed now, and Kareena and Abhishek, who could have been sister and brother-in-law had Karisma married Junior B, have decided to let bygones be bygones and work together. They made up at KJo’s birthday bash a while back.

If Bebo bags the film, it will benefit her professionally, commercially and personally.

A source tells us, ‘Kareena and Karan Johar also had a tiff during the time of Kal Ho Naa Ho. After the success of K3G, he offered the film to her, but she quoted a very high price, due to which Preity Zinta stepped in her shoes. The two have kissed and made up since, and they even shot for a paint ad together. KJo wanted to cast her in Dostana, but AB didn’t want to work with her. Now, Kareena has shot for Kurbaan and she is also shooting for the remake of Stepmom. If she bags Dostana 2, she will have a trilogy with Dharma, which few stars (read SRK) can boast of. It will also end her long-standing cold war with John Abraham, whom she had once called ‘expressionless.’ Also, Bebo can do any kind of role, as she is an expressive and versatile actor.’

Katrina is also in the running for the role, but it looks like Kareena, with her Bollywood royalty clout, will beat her to it and Kat won’t get the cream.

Director Tarun Mansukhani denied casting Katrina altogether, saying that the script wasn’t complete as yet, but he neither confirmed nor denied Kareena’s presence in the film, which will go into production in London next year. He added, "I want to make D2 funnier than the first. Casting someone who has a flair for comedy is important, so it is really a toss about whom to take for the female lead, and I am not ruling out one of either, but let's wait till I make an official announcement."

(Star Box Office)