In Prakash Jha's Aarakshan opposite Ajay Devgn. Katrina Kaif was first choice but was dropped for keeping the director hanging

Deepika Padukone has signed Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Manoj Bajpayee.

Apparently, she wasn't the first choice for the film. Jha wanted to repeat his Raajneeti actress, Katrina Kaif.

Aarakshan is based on student politics and job reservations. Says an industry source, "Initially, Jha was keen to sign Kat for the romantic lead opposite Ajay. He had approached her, post-Raajneeti but she was committed to Dostana 2.

However, she didn't want to lose out on this meaty role and kept him hanging saying she would try and make time."

In the lurch

An insider adds, "Impressed by Kat's work during Raajneeti, Prakash was keen to have her on board once again.

She promised him that after she returned from shooting in Spain for Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, she would discuss the script.

But that hasn't happened. In stead, she signed YRF's next with Imran Khan and has been shooting for it all over North India."

This didn't go down well with the director, who felt she owed him for giving her the role-of-a-lifetime in his last film. He decided to approach Deepika.

He felt the dimpled actress would make a fresh and interesting pair with Ajay and was widely accepted as a better actress than her rival after films like Karthik Calling Karthik and Lafangey Parindey.

Dippy, too, is keen to work with the National Award-winning director, who delivered a huge commercial hit this year. The source adds, "She said yes immediately when Prakash approached her."

The director, however, denies that he has approached either actress for his next, "I haven't approached anybody for the female lead as yet.

Once the script is finalised and I understand who will suit the character and be able to talk in the particular language that the script might have, will I be able to decide on anything."

Deepika remained unavailable for comment.

Katrina says, "No it's not true. Prakashji knows the film we want to make together. It's a different film... (and it was) never Aarakshan. We already discussed it during Raajneeti release."