/> It was dream comeback for one of the screen queens of the 1990s.

If all had gone well Raveena Tandon would have made her much-anticipated comeback with one of the most powerful roles written for a 40-plus actress.

It was a role of a all-powerful politician in Prakash Jha's Rajneeti inspired by Mrs Indira Gandhi's life and times. Raveena was to play Ranbir Kapoor's mother. Ranbir's role resonated the life of Rajiv Gandhi.

Quietly Raveena had several meeting with the director Prakash Jha. And they were both hugely excited about it. Raveena had to age from 20 to 60. Her makeup sarees and styling were all finalized.

Until Raveena realized the role required her to play not just Ranbir's mom, but also Ajay Devgan's mother.

That's where she decided to back out thereby halting her spectacular comeback plans.

Raveena confirms the sudden reversal of her comeback plans. "It's true Prakash Jha offered me the role you mention in Rajneeti. And what a role! I've the highest regards for Prakash.

And when I met him for this part I realized he's even bigger a visionary than I thought of him. He's meant to not just make films but be a national leader. He's absolutely the right person to direct a subject like Rajneeti. I'd have given anything to return to cinema with this project, specially since he insisted I was his first and best choice."

So was Ajay Devgan the reason for Raveena opting out? "You can't blame me for saying no to playing mother to an actor with whom I co-starred in so many films. But I had a bigger reason for my refusal . The film required me to leave Mumbai for two months at a stretch. Both my children are too young to be be left behind for such a long time, specially since they don't even go to school yet."

Raveena is ready to comeback. But she will only do a film that requires her to shoot in and around Mumbai.

As for the role of the female politician in Rajneeti, Prakash Jha is now looking at Tisca Arora or Mrinal Kulkarni.