MUMBAI: In an attempt to recapture the on-screen chemistry between Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, director Anurag Basu had been keen to cast Katrina in his upcoming romantic comedy, Barfi!. Anurag recalls, “I wanted to cast them (Ranbir and Katrina). They look nice together. I was glad when Katrina said ‘yes’ as she was my first choice for the role. I had approached her for the character that Ileana [D’Cruz] finally ended up doing.”

The pair has previously starred in Raajneeti (2010) and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), and their pairing has proven to be successful. For Barfi!, Anurag had offered Katrina the lead role opposite Ranbir (the movie has three main characters), and Katrina had even agreed to do the film. Not only had she liked the part, but also the fact that it would give her a chance to work with Ranbir again had made her say yes.

However, after confirming her participation in the movie, Katrina backed out. Her reasons seemed to be her desire to focus on sole lead movies rather than working in a two-heroine film. Officially though, Katrina’s busy schedule was held responsible for her decision. The director has put it down to destiny. He said, “Maybe this role was in Ileana’s destiny, and she got it. She was an instinctive choice after Katrina, for this role.”

Barfi! is a much awaited movie and its theatrical trailer has already garnered a lot of response. The movie is a story about Shruti (Ileana) who falls for the deaf and mute Barfi (Ranbir). But due to parental pressure, she marries someone else. Years later, she meets Barfi only to see that he’s in love with the autistic Jhilmil (played by Priyanka Chopra). The movie is set to release on 14 September.