South actress Lakshmi Rai has been signed opposite Himesh for this film being directed by Satish Kaushik.
Originally from Belgaum, but now based in Chennai, Lakshmi has been doing Tamil - Telugu film for last 3 years.
This is her first big break in Hindi films. She was recently in the news for her growing promixity to Indian One Day Cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
As Dhoni was captain of the Chennai Super Kings IPL team and she being based in Chennai, during the IPL tournament she invited him to her birthday and after he attended it, she made sure she was present at every Chennai Super Kings match in Chennai.
The shooting for the film has already begun in Mumbai and two hot numbers featuring Lakshmi Rai and Himesh have been shot in a Mumbai studio in last two weeks. Lakshmi is playing the character of a Punjabi girl in love with Himesh in the film.
About why Himesh always opts for a young new heroine opposite in each of his films starring him in the lead, one of his close aide claims, "Himesh is an avid follower of astrology and is extremely superstitous.
He is just following his astrologer's advice of choosing a new heroine opposite him everytime he acts in a film for better results of the film and his career."
It may be true but his detractors claim, "Himesh is just playing safe. No top actress would like to be acting opposite someone like Himesh who goes on to hog the entire limelight in terms of publicity.
So instead of getting himself embrassed with a NO on his face, Himesh is opting out for newcomers who are more than eager to star in a Bollywood film irrespective of who the hero is!"
Looking for truth in B-town is quite nonsensical unless one has the whole life to spend on it and as we don't have such a long span, better we leave the matter entirely up on the stars. For a change we can wait to witness the poses by the newly arriving diva opposite Himesh. -Abhijit Mhamunkar