MUMBAI: Deepika Padukone had a dream debut with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’. Since then she went out to work with the biggies of Bollywood and the only person with whom Deepika Padukone had not shared screen space was Salman Khan.

Deepika Padukone seems to have received a huge ‘Kick’ now, as Jacqueline Fernandez has bagged the prestigious role in Sajid Nadiadwala’s ‘Kick’ alongside Salman Khan. While the Sri Lankan model-turned-actress has according to recent reports parted ways with ‘Himmatwala’ director Sajid Khan, she was roped in, as producer Sajid Nadiadwala was impressed with her performance in ‘Race 2’.

This surely comes as a big jolt to Deepika Padukone, who openly had expressed desire to work with Salman Khan. Sajid Nadiadwala confirmed that Jacqueline Fernandez has been cast alongside Salman Khan for ‘Kick’. But we wonder what could have been the reason for Deepika Padukone’s ouster from ‘Kick’?

A source close to Sajid Nadiadwala says, “Sajid wanted someone who could give four-five months to the project at a stretch.”

Deepika Padukone, who is shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Ram Leela’ would not have been able to devote time. So Jacqueline Fernandez eventually grabbed the role.

‘Kick’ marks the directorial debut of Sajid Nadiadwala and is a remake of the Telugu film of the same name. The film was also remade in Tamil.

With Jacqueline Fernandez, now being roped as the leading lady alongside Salman Khan, we hope that ‘Kick’ would kick-start soon.