Filmmakers feel presently there is an acute shortage of female leads in the industry with most of them facing casting woes or having to wait for months for their dates

Almost every beauty pageant participant aspires to be an actress as soon as she is crowned. Small screen names hope to step on to the big screen while models are keen to trade in their catwalks for the celluloid. Add to this the plethora of girls who harbour dreams of lighting up the marquee. The girls may be willing and able but are they capable?


Shraddha Kapoor is seeking mileage from buzz about refusing offers

Most filmmakers feel there is a shortage of girls in the industry. Recently when filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali, Vikramaditya Motwane, Rohan Sippy and Vipul Shah among others had got together at the Mid-day office to discuss things they wished were a part of the industry, Motwane had quipped, `There's a real shortage of girls in the industry today.`

To which Imtiaz had added, `Every time, one of us starts making a movie, we begin to look for girls who can act and you inevitably see that there's really nobody. While Sippy opined, `Nowadays the secretaries /managers of the actress make them models - not actresses.


Asin only wants to work with the leading stars

Earlier, they were instinctive and knew what they are here for. Modelling agencies are now thinking that it's a similar thing to do when it clearly isn't. Yes, it's not easy to find actresses nowadays.`

Shah had added, `Unfortunately, the Indian mindset is that shaadi ho gayi toh buddhi ho gayi. A married actress can't take up so many projects. In fact, you see how our actresses don't get married till they are 35 or 37 because they believe in this perception, as there is a shift in audiences' love for them. They might be mature but the perception changes already.`


Diana Penty is in no hurry to sign her second film

Also, with some actresses preferring to be visible and raking in the moolah through event appearances and brand endorsements, they are in no hurry to continue doing any film. A Shraddha Kapoor may be infamous for rejecting roles while a Diana Penty is in no hurry to do a second film.

Merry go round


Mishti was found after a nationwide hunt

Of late, OMG: Oh My God! director Umesh Shukla has been making more news about having a tough time finding an actress for his project with Abhishek Bachchan. With several names being tossed around for quite a while including those who rejected them, buzz is that eventually Asin may feature in his film.

Still undecided
Sooraj Barjatya announced a film with Salman Khan a while back and even though it is slated to go on the floors in the coming months, he has still not decided on his heroine. Meanwhile the speculation grows.

The big hunt
For months, Subhash Ghai was unable to find the right face. As a last resort, he launched a nationwide hunt for the female lead of his upcoming film. He travelled from Chandigarh to Kolkata. After a year he finally settled for a Bengali starlet Indrani Chakraborty who he rechristened as Mishti for his next.

According to B-Town buzz, Ghai prefers to scout for fresh talent for his films, as he apparently detests 'begging' the busy leading actresses to do his film and wait for their dates.

Third time unlucky

Prabhu Deva's next film with Ajay Devgn needs three actresses. He has already finalised Sonakshi Sinha and Yaami Gautam. But the quest for a third actress is still on. Last heard he was yet to take a decision.

Thrice as nice

Considering that Sajid Khan's next has Saif Ali Khan and Riteish Deshmukh in triple roles, he will need more than one actress. Apart from Tamannaah, he has roped in Esha Gupta and is still looking for one more.

A long journey

After several names did the rounds about who will feature in Farah Khan's next starring Shah Rukh Khan, it is now apparently telly actress Ankita Lokhande. Farah took a while to finalise the girl even though some leading names were tossed around for the role.

Heroine watch

Agneepath director Karan Malhotra is making another film with Hrtihik Roshan, but has not yet announced who will be the female lead. Though buzz is that Kareena Kapoor is slated to feature in the film, Karan has maintained for a long time that he is still hunting for an actress.

Sibling act
Zoya Akhtar's next is about a brother and sister. With Ranveer Singh tipped to headline the cast, the director is hunting for a starry name to play the sibling. Initially Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor were apparently sounded off but after Ranbir opted out, Bebo too did likewise.