Sujoy’s SOS call to Kangana
The director, who had a fallout with the actress, has returned to her with the script of his next thriller after Jacqueline Fernandez bowed out of the film
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 30, 2015)

In yet another case that illustrates the age-old maxim that there are no permanent friends or foes in the film industry, Sujoy Ghosh, who recently had a bitter fight with Kangana Ranaut, has returned to her with his next script. The Ekta Kapoor-produced thriller, The Devotion of Suspect X, has now reached the Queen actress who was recently given a narration.

According to a source close to the production house, Sujoy's Aladin heroine Jacqueline Fernandez, was in contention for the role, but the dates couldn't be worked out as she starts shooting for Rohit Dhawan's action thriller, Dishoom, co-starring John Abraham and Varun Dhawan around the same time. "Kangana is ideal for the part and can juggle her dates in April," points out the source. The part on offer is the role of a mother with an eight-year-old child who becomes the prime suspect in her husband's murder. "Sujoy needs a heroine desperately and requested Kangana to read the script. She really liked the role and will take a final call in the coming weeks."

It may be recalled that after Vidya Balan walked out of Sujoy's dream project Durga Rani Singh, the director took the role of a 35-year-old mother of a teenage paralytic girl, to Kangana. The actress had agreed to star in the project but then opted out following several differences. The project has since been in a limbo.

Sujoy has been runing helter skelter to find the female lead for Suspect X too. A deal with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fell through and Deepika Padukone told Balaji that she could give dates only in 2016. Parineeti Chopra too was approached but things didn't work out with her either.

"Everyone's hopeful that Kangana will come onboard Suspect X," our source said.

If she does, she will paired with Saif Ali Khan who she was to romance in Reema Kagti's Mr. Chaalu but he dropped out of the film over remuneration issues.