MUMBAI: Director Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ woes don’t seem to be at end anytime soon. From delays to casting issues, the film has been plagued by a variety of troubles.
Farah Khan’s intention to make ‘Happy New Year’ began post the film ‘Tees Maar Khan’ released (and flopped miserably, might we add). She had zoomed in on Shah Rukh Khan as the male lead, and things were all hunky dory. All that needed to be zeroed in on was the female lead.
Casting Conundrum
Alas, this is where the woes began. Farah has not been able to finalise the female lead for her ambitious project. In January this year, rumours swirled thick and fast that Priyanka Chopra had signed on the dotted line opposite SRK. Considering her on-screen and off-screen chemistry with the King Khan, this seemed like a natural fit.
Prior to that, names such as Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Parineeti were being considered by the filmmaker, but nothing came of these.
For quite some time, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback was linked to ‘Happy New Year’, considering her husband Abhishek Bachchan too has a pivotal role in the film.
Very recently, newcomers’ names of TV star Ankita Lokhande, as well as Jennifer Winget and Simran Kaur Mundi were being circulated. Ankita’s name cropped up because SRK had apparently noticed her at IIFA awards ceremony, and had recommended her name to Farah.
Is Katrina Kaif the Chosen One?
However, just this morning, fresh media reports emerged, declaring Katrina Kaif as the winner of the ‘Happy New Year’ race. Due to Shah Rukh Khan’s insistence to have a seasoned actress opposite him, and his first choice Deepika Padukone’s dates being unavailable, Katrina was chosen as the heroine.
Farah Khan Tears her Hair Out
Alas, this also turned out to be a false report, as Farah Khan refuted the rumour on Twitter by tweeting:
Lost count of d FALSE stories printd bout casting of Happy New Year!includng d 1 2day.flattered by the attention but angry wth d inaccuracy!
— Farah Khan (@TheFarahKhan) July 26, 2013
With the first schedule seemingly delayed due to hero SRK’s shoulder injury, and the female lead nowhere near being finalised, we wonder if Farah’s film ‘Happy New Year’ will see the light of day by the new year.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OPPOSITE SRK IN ‘HAPPY NEW YEAR’?
