Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; May 20, 2014)

Ashutosh Gowariker may have signed on Hrithik Roshan for his film, Mohenjo-Daro, but he is yet to finalise the film’s female lead. Now it has emerged that the director may cast Priyanka Chopra or Kareena Kapoor in the film. A source says, “Since the announcement of the film, there has been a lot of speculation about who will be paired with Hrithik. It seems that both Priyanka and Kareena are keen to do the role and they have been sending feelers to the director about the same. However, Ashutosh is yet to take a call.”

Initially, there was buzz that Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif may do the film, but it was then said that Gowariker didn’t meet them. Kareena, on the other hand, was supposed to work alongside Hrithik in Karan Johar’s Shuddhi, but that could not happen either.

“Ashutosh is currently busy shooting for his TV show, Everest, due to which he has not started working on the film’s casting. He is yet to approach any actress, though it is true that some of them have spoken to him and shown interest in starring in the project,” says the source.

Ashutosh’s spokesperson was unavailable for comment.