Director of Satte Pe Satta remake, Soham Shah gets on producer Sanjay Dutt's bad side by announcing Madhuri Dixit as the film's female lead. Upset Dutt insists Aishwarya is the only choice for the role

Soham Shah has upset Sanjay Dutt. The director recently made an announcement that Madhuri Dixit would play the female lead opposite Dutt in the actor's co-production with Shree Ashtavinayak.

The film in question is the Satte Pe Satta remake and the actor is upset because Mads was never approached by the producers and Aishwarya Rai and Kajol were the first choices for the role originally played by Hema Malini in the 1982 flick.

A source maintains, "Kads was Sanju's first choice. But she had a baby last year and Sanju didn't want to put her in a fix. If not Kajol, his choice was always Aishwarya Rai, never Madhuri Dixit.

Ash was approached for the role but had date issues. During this time, two other names came up for consideration Rani Mukerji and Karishma Kapoor."

At this point, Soham suggested Madhuri. Apparently, he wanted to sensationalise his project. Adds the source, "It was Soham who made the declaration without informing the producers.

He told Ashtavinayak that Sanju was fine with Madhuri and told Rikku (Madhuri's secretary) to announce on her birthday that she is doing the film."

Sanjay Dutt says, "The script hasn't yet been sent to Madhuri. Nor has the money exchanged hands. I am in Diu, so I don't know what's happening in Mumbai.

Ashtavinyak and I are waiting for Aishwarya. I don't know why Soham made such a hasty decision without confirming with the producers!"

A source close to Soham insists, "He's not completely to blame. There's more to this story than meets the eye."

Other names tossed around...

Past failings

Says the source, "Soham had a fallout with Karan Johar after Kaal. He approached Ajay Devgn with the same script and later went to John Abraham with it.

That's why none of Soham's actors have worked with him again except Sanju, who gave him another chance after Luck. But now Sanju is upset, too."

A director, who Sanju is currently working with, says, "Soham should just concentrate on his script and not sensationalise on someone's past affairs. The script should be the hero, not the big stars in it."