Deepika steps in as Emraan's new heroine

So who's afraid of Emraan Hashmi? Not Deepika Padukone, who has reportedly given her nod to the ambitious Ekta Kapoor- Karan Johar venture. Dippy in fact picks up where Kareena had left off.

Readers may recall that despite agreeing to do the film when it was first announced, Kareena had politely bowed out when it became obvious that Emraan would be playing the male lead.

Though no official reason was ever cited for her walkout, it has been rumoured that Bebo was not comfortable sharing screenspace with Hashmi, who is fast gaining currency as one of the most unlikely heroes.

Dippy however seems to have no such qualms. If at all, she seems to be keen on getting out of her comfort zone. First she signed up with her ex lover, and now this.

A source close to the Balaji- Dharma project revealed, "It is strange Kareena was not happy with her role. She also told Ekta and Karan that her wedding would be around the same time they wanted to start shooting for the film. It's a heroine-oriented film and Emraan is not the mainstay of the project. Deepika was so excited about her role that she agreed to it a couple of days before boarding the flight to Turkey, where she is currently shooting for Race 2."

According to the source, later, Kareena had a change of heart and expressed a wish to return to the project. But it was too late by then. "It would have been unethical to show Deepika the door then. Moreover, they were unanimous in their opinion that Deepika could pull off the role as efficiently as Kareena would have."

"The film is an urban take on love - it is quirky, edgy and dramatic," says an insider. Debutant director Akshay Roy who wields the megaphone is in fifth gear for his challenging assignment, which starts later this year. Sources from both Dharma and Balaji confirmed the developments.