After Saif Ali Khan left Reema Kagti's Mr. Chaalu over remuneration issues (Mirror, December 27) the makers started hunting for a `suitable boy' to play a scheming womaniser.

They had approached Shahid Kapoor but he cited Abhishek Chaubey's drug drama, Udta Punjab, for which he starts shooting in mid-March, as the reason for not doing Reema's romantic drama. Now buzz is, the makers have finalised the Khubsoorat Pakistani heart throb Fawad Khan.

A source close to the development told Mirror that the deal with Fawad was sealed recently when the actor was in town for the Filmfare Awards where he picked up the trophy for Best Debut. “The makers (Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani) and Reema are convinced that Fawad will be able to convincingly pull of this role of a suave charmer who cons women into losing their heart to him and then cheats them out of their money. For him too, it'll be a welcome change from the quintessential stiff upper-lip royal that he essayed in his first film,“ the source added. Kangana Ranaut, the original leading lady, has moved on to pair up with Saif in Sujoy Ghosh's cinematic adaptation of the Japanese novel, The Devotion of Suspect X, and the producers are scouting around for a heroine who can pull one over the dishy Fawad.

Said the source, “After Kangana's exit, Reema has substantially changed the script. The film has strong roles for both protagonists and a leading lady is likely to be finalised in a week's time.“

Mr. Chaalu goes on the floors in August. The film also stars Richa Chadda and Pooja Bhatt in pivotal roles.