Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; May 28, 2015)

After losing out on two big projects, model Disha Patani was supposed to make her debut opposite Tiger Shroff in Baaghi. However, the news of Shraddha Kapoor being finalised as the lead actress has apparently taken the newbie by shock.

Sources say Disha had been prepping for the role and attending workshops, but was unceremoniously ousted from the project. “She had been duly signed as Tiger’s leading lady, but was replaced by Shraddha overnight as the makers wanted to add star value to the film. They did not even bother to inform her,” a source adds.

A unit hand states that the makers’ decision came as a bolt from the blue for Disha, who was rumoured to have been offered Vanity Fair, a Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor co-production and then KJo’s sex comedy Dil De, Pyaar De (earlier titled No Sex Please, We’re Indians). Baaghi, a Sajid Nadiadwala production, will be helmed by Sabbir Khan.

Sabbir did not revert to our text messages while Disha’s manager says, “She was never in Baaghi. It was just a speculation. Disha is doing a Nadiadwala film for sure, but at the moment, we cannot reveal much as it is still in the pre-production stage.”