By Subhash K Jha

Young teen idol of Kannada cinema Diganth got a taste of Bollywood's temperamental diva-brigade when Prachi Desai, riding high ever since her career got a boost from Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai, suddenly opted out his Hindi debut film at the eleventh hour, leaving the project high and dry.

The film designed as a big romantic musical to give the Kannanda heartthrob the right start in Bollywood, goes on the floors on the September. Provided a suitable leading is found for Diganth at this late stage.

Says a source close to the project, "Everything was finalized. Diganth who is a major star in Karnataka has all the makings of a national star thanks to his Rajasthani background and his pan-India look.

The producers P. J Singh (of London Dreams) and director Mani Shankar (of Knockout) wanted to launch Diganth with a pretty fragile girl who would be able to look physically correct with the 28-year Kannada star. Prachi was finalized. "

And then suddenly Prachi informed the makers of Diganth's Bollywood debut film that she was no longer doing the film, thereby creating panic situation.

Says a source, "A lot of resources have gone into pre-production. The boy Diganth has been training to be equipped to take on competition from Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan Everything was in place. But now the project is without a leading lady. "

Incidentally this is Prachi's second such misadventure with a Southern leading man. Earlier she opted out unceremoniously from the Tamil film Thaidaiyaara Thaka leaving the project high and dry at the last minute.

We wonder what could have prompted Prachi to be so unprofessional with an established actor from another language all set to be launched into Bollywood.