When Raveena Tandon signed Madhur Bhandarkar`s Satta, a very prominent actress was also in the reckoning for `an important role` - that of her best friend. But for obvious reasons, the original choice, Karisma Kapoor, thumbed it down though the director insists "it is as important in the original script as the protaganist`s role.`

After much delay and a desperate hunt for a suitable face, the choice zeroed down to model and VJ Suchitra Pillai, who incidentally is Ravs` `very close friend in real life too.` But there`s another reason why Ms. Tandon didn`t want any other actress (Tabu, Shilpa, Manisha were all considered later) to be roped in."I want someone who could make me look younger," she pleaded.

A perplexed and mystified Bhandarkar wondered how `someone else would make his heroine look younger` but kept mum, till Suchitra spilled the beans, "She looks older than the rest, can`t you see?"