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Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 29, 2016)

Could Jacqueline Fernandez be steadily encroaching on Katrina Kaif ‘territory’? With news of her angling for the female lead in Salman Khan’s home production directed by Tarun Mansukhani (of Dostana fame), coming in, that might well seem the case.

This won’t be the first time this has happened. Case in point: The turning point in Jackie’s career was Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick, a film Kat was approached for first. Similarly, Kaif decided against working in Roy opposite Ranbir Kapoor and the role went to Ms Fernandez, who was noticed despite the film failing at the B-O. The latter has also replaced Kat in the Bang Bang sequel.

A prominent producer, who knows both actresses well, says, “Both girls are hard-working, professional, completely focused and ruthlessly ambitious. They also have a similar personality profile. So the roles that would have ideally gone to Katrina, especially with Salman, went to Jacqueline.”

With Kat now mending bridges with Salman, he has offered her the lead role in the Tarun directorial. But, concludes the source, “Salman is not likely to change his mind. But that doesn’t stop ambitious people from doing their thing.”

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