MUMBAI: Remember how Sonu Sood and Neha Dhupia had burnt up the screen with their scorching chemistry in Sheesha? The duo is will now be seen together in Maximum, though there are no intimate scenes this time.
Sood, who plays the lead in Kabir Kaushik’s action-drama Maximum, faced a peculiar problem, probably never encountered by any actor before. Although he started shooting for the film, no suitable leading lady was found. As the days of shooting multiplied so did the worry factor about the solo actor’s leading lady.
A source tells Businessofcinema.com, “Sonu Sood’s co-star’s role was a powerful one and not just a prop. They wanted Tabu for the part. She initially showed interest and then declined. Then Dia Mirza was approached but she’s busy with her home production. Amrita Rao was almost finalized as Sonu’s co-star.”
When asked about this unorthodox crisis, Sood didn’t deny that a heroine hunt was on. “We approached several ladies. It isn’t as if the part was not substantial. It was a very powerful role but the actresses were busy. So yes, I was shooting my action scenes. The emotional and romantic scenes happened once my co-star is finalized. I am happy to be working with Neha after so many years.”
Sood even shot an item song with Anjana Sukhani, in case his no-woman predicament in Maximum gets blown out of curvaceous proportion.
Ironically Sood has recommended his Bbuddah co-star Charmee Kaur for a role, although he is facing a heroine crisis himself. Apparently, the South Indian actress got a role opposite Vivek Oberoi in director Anand Kumar’s Zilla Ghaziabad on Sonu’s recommendation.
A source adds, “Although Sonu could not do Vivek Oberoi’s role in Zilla Ghaziabad, he took a keen interest in the casting, although he was no part of the project. He recommended Charmee for a role opposite Arshad Warsi in Zilla Ghaziabad.”
Sood was to do Vivek’s part.
Sood says, “Yes, I found Charmee to be very spontaneous in Bbuddah and since the producer of Zilla Ghaziabad happens to be a friend, I recommended her.”
