/> Katrina sure is making up for lost time and space with Ranbir Kapoor. After having had her track cut out of the Yashraj Film Bachna Ae Haseenon the duo has signed two films in quick succession.

After Raj Kumar Santoshi's Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani it is Prakash Jha's Rajneeti. In this political thriller which also stars Ajay Devgan and Manoj Bajpai Katrina will be seen as Ranbir's love interest.

For both the actors Prakash Jha known for his raw political thrillers, is an experience very different from the kind of cinema they've done so far.

Says Prakash, "I needed an actress who would look convincing as an intelligent modern cultured girl of today. Katrina fitted the bill perfectly. She also looks perfectly matched with Ranbir.

Not too many of the top leading ladies are compatible with Ranbir. Katrina is versatile enough to look perfectly match with Salman-Akshay and Ranbir.

I also like her focused attitude to her career. Now that she has proved herself successful there's a hunger to prove herself in roles and projects that aren't considered Katrina's kingdom."

Katrina's role wouldn't be a mere romantic foil to Ranbir.

"Not at all, " asserts Prakash. "She has very powerful dramatic moments in the plot. This role would require Katrina to put all her skills into the active mode."

The fact that Ranbir and Katrina share the same secretary has also expedited her entry into what promises to be a different more gritty kind of cinema

Rajneeti now has an interesting array of star and actors. Recently Viveik Oberoi who was to play one of the leads in this modernday rendering of Mahabharat as set in a political dynasty akin to the Gandhis, opted out. He has been replaced by Arjun Rampal.

Says Prakash, "No one is making multi-starrers any more. I think Rajneeti will be the only one in the near future."3