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Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 6, 2016)

Enlarge ImageThere’s a strong buzz in industry circles that both Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, who are co-producing the Ittefaq remake, felt that Varun Dhawan was the best choice for their film to reprise the role played by Rajesh Khanna in the original Yash Chopra film.

The role of the psychologically traumatised man on the run after being accused of murdering his wife had taken Rajesh Khanna’s career to the next level. Any star of today would give his right arm to do a new version of Ittefaq, which B.R Chopra’s grandson Abhay Chopra will direct. Not Varun, it seems. Reliable sources say Shah Rukh offered the the part of the fugitive hero to Varun, who has cited date issues as a reason for being unable to immediately accept Shah Rukh’s offer.

However the reason could be something else. Sources say that after the Dilwale experience, Varun is wary of doing another film for SRK’s banner. Some times, roles get chopped on the editing table, and don’t turn out to be what they were meant to be. Shah Rukh, with over 20 years in the movie business realises this, and is perhaps offering Varun another film, is his way of correcting what happened. “Varun has not said no as yet. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh and Sidharth Malhotra have also been approached,” says the source.