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.”

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2015)

Disha Patani who was picked for Akshay Roy's Vanity Fair, a Karan Johar-Ekta Kapoor co-production, then whisked away by KJo for his sex comedy, Dil De, Pyaar De (earlier titled No Sex Please, We're Indians) will finally make her debut opposite Tiger Shroff in Sajid Nadiadwala's Baaghi.

She was one of the many to audition for the role and was promptly signed up. The film rolls on March 16.

A source close to the development told Mirror, "The film is a high-on-action martial-arts drama. And Tiger will be seen performing the stunts his martial-arts skills in the love saga which will open in April 2016."

Meanwhile buzz is, after his appearance in the controversial AIB Roast, Karan has decided to shelve the Sonam Nair directed sex comedy. "Ekta, who was earlier supposed to co-produce the film has backed out and the project isn't likely to start anytime soon," adds the source.

Pulkit Samrat who was to topline the cast with Disha, dropped out of the film soon after he tied the knot, opting for Bhushan Kumar's Junooniyat instead.

When contacted Sonam told Mirror, "My film will start only after we find debutants with the potential to become tomorrow's stars. See where the Student of the Year newcomers, Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt are today. The hunt is on."

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; November 20, 2014)

Until now, it had been widely reported that Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor’s joint production venture had been titled No Sex Please, We’re Indians. However, producer Shailendra Singh has now revealed that he has already registered a title of the same name.

Singh, who turns director with his upcoming project, says, “I am helming a film called No Sex Please. I registered the title on April 25 this year. But, I came to know through media reports about another film having the same title.” If need be, will he give up the title? He shakes his head, saying, “Sorry, I cannot do that because I have already shot for the title song of my film.” On the other hand, Tanuj Garg, CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures, which will be co-producing the KJo film, says: “That (No Sex…) was never meant to be our film title.”

However, a source close to the production house maintains that the makers had indeed zeroed in on the No Sex… title. “That is what everyone in the team had been told so far. But, if it has already been registered by another filmmaker, we will obviously have no other option but to decide on a new name,” adds the source.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; November 18, 2014)

In about three weeks, Pulkit Samrat was supposed to start shooting for Karan Johar’s No Sex Please, We are Indians. However, rumour mills suggest that the actor, who is currently basking in marital bliss, has opted out of the sex comedy leaving the production house in the lurch.

Says a source, “Pulkit decided to walk out of the project barely 20 days before it was to go on the floors. He is just back from his honeymoon and it seems he wasn’t willing to do the sex comedy. Moreover, he has many other offers in hand.” With the shooting date inching closer, director Sonam Nair is said to be holding several rounds of auditions to cast a fresh face. No workshop has been conducted either.

Rannvijay Singh’s brother, Harman has apparently auditioned for the role. Newcomer Disha Patani, who featured opposite Pulkit in a shopping portal’s ad, has been finalised as the lead actress.

Another source dismisses rumours of Pulkit acting prudish and says that he abandoned the film as he was not too confident about working with Nair. The director’s last film, Gippi (2013), which also came from KJo’s Dharma Productions stable, was a box office dud.

Pulkit and Nair were not available for comment. Tanuj Garg, CEO-Balaji, which is co-producing the film, says, “No one (actor) was confirmed or announced to begin with so there is no question of anyone being thrown out or walking out.”

Vanity Fair has been put on the backburner again but the girl shortlisted for it to be seen in Sonam Nair's adult comedy, No Sex Please, We're Indians
MUMBAI MIRROR (September 18, 2014)

Last June, a film titled Badtameez Dil was announced with much fanfare following a casting coup. Emraan Hashmi and Kareena Kapoor had been roped in by two of industry's most powerful producers, Ekta Kapoor and Karan Johar.

However, the film, went into a limbo. Eventually, Emraan opted out of the project. The film was to mark the directorial debut of Akshay Roy who has assisted in films like Taare Zameen Par and The Namesake.

"Akshay was still writing the script when I consented to do the film. I don't really know what happened after that. Everybody just walked away from the project," Hashmi had earlier told Mirror (June 23).

After Emraan's exit, the project was reportedly taken to Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra but the 'students' were busy with other commitments and that's when the notion of casting newcomers, preferably star kids, came up.

The project was back on track (Mirror, June 14) and was to roll in September. Disha Patani, a model, had been shortlisted and the rest of the cast was in the process being finalised when Karan supposedly had a change of heart.

"He felt that Disha would be more apt for another of his productions, Sonam Nair's adult comedy, No Sex Please, We're Indians," says a source close to the development. "Now, Vanity Fair has been indefinitely delayed. They're still trying to salvage it but can't get the right actors. Sonam's film will go on floors first with Disha."

Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor and Akshay Roy chose not to respond to our text messages.