/> When Ram Gopal Varma announced his Sholay more than a year back, one of the first actors to be cast was Katrina Kaif as the widow Radha...a role already taken to heights of poignancy by Jaya Bhaduri in Ramesh Sippy's 1975 epic.

But now when the film's shooting has begun it's Sushmita Sen who plays the repressed widow Radha.

Ramu explains with a chuckle, "First of all, everyone presumed Sushmita is playing Basanti...just because she has that exuberant, out-going, talkative personality. But I'm tired of saying my Basanti is an entirely different ball game in my Sholay.

Every actor is cast according to characterization. For example the character of Ahmed (played by Sachin in the original) is far more fleshed-out in my Sholay. My Ahmed (played by veejay Gaurav) is innocent mischievous and friendly, and he has a confrontation scene with Gabbar which wasn't there in the first Sholay."

Coming to Radha... "My Radha is neither introverted, nor repressed. And she doesn't spend all her time lighting lamps in the night. In a contemporary metro-centric atmosphere we can't have Radha languishing.

Of course she has suffered a great tragedy. And there's a bitterness in her about it. But she understands her father-in-law's need for revenge. Sushmita's Radha is far more practical. She looks after her father-in-law and runs a small clinic for the poor. Sushmita has the strength and also the vulnerability to play the role."

As for Katrina, "I signed her two years ago when I wasn't sure about how the character would shaped up. Then it got delayed because of Amitji's illness. Finally Sushmita fitted the part bang-on."

When Ramu approached Sushmita she grabbed it. "When I met her she was immediately on. Though she has worked in my company (in Vastu Shastra) I've never directed her."