Insecure 40+ superstars hunt for fresh faces

So Salman's found a new face opposite him for Sohail Khan's film while SRK is hunting for one for Farah Khan's next.

Rumours are also abuzz that Nawab Saif Ali Khan is also looking for a fresh face for his home production. So what happened to Diana Penty who debuted in his home production just last year? Last season's flavour? Maybe yes.

2012 saw the grand debut of as many as a dozen newbies. But only a handful of them have any films on their plates this year. So why are our 40-something A-list male superstars so fussy about their co-stars' age? Is it because of their insecurity about looking older or is it the fear of being overshadowed? After all, their A-list female counterparts too have their platter laden with too many meaty projects. Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma have no dates to spare for the entire year.

Tricks of the trade
Trade experts attribute this to a couple of factors. First of all, the lack of top actresses in Bollywood right now.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra says, "Kareena is already married and Priyanka is very busy. Sonakshi has already done two to three films with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. Stars prefer to go for new girls who bring freshness to the project."

This is the reason that every year sees the influx of three to four actresses. However, most of them end up not making the A-list cut.

Trade expert Vajir Singh says, "If you see Zarine Khan or Nargis Fakhri, they too made their debuts in big films but without a proper character cut out, they are where they are."

According to Vajir, Asin and Kajal Aggarwal have done big banner films but have not added any substance to the content except being arm candy. "They need to choose films that have a well-defined character."

Another reason is the age factor. Mehra adds, "If Salman does a film with Parineeti, the audience feels that the girl is very young. But if it's a newcomer they do not feel that. These girls need a super hit or a blockbuster to get into the next level."

Of course, the same thing backfires in cases like Sonakshi who now appears much older than male co-stars of her age group.

Waiting to make it to the A-list

Here are some actresses who have been successful with their films but strangely have no project with any A-list male actor, including the Khans, Ajay Devgn or Akshay.

Aditi Rao Hydari, Prachi Desai, Shruti Hassan, Huma Qureshi, Sunny Leone, Yaami Gautam and Neha Sharma seem to be biding their time before being paired opposite an A-lister. In the case of Asin, who has had films with both Salman Khan and Devgn has no film in hand right now.

Chitrangada Singh, who made her commercial debut with Desi Boys, has no project. Post her debut with Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri has finally managed to land herself a film. Shruti Hassan is doing a film with a star son while Parineeti has telly actor Sushant Singh Rajput as her co-star.

Already famous. But where are the films?

Asin who has had films with Salman, Akshay and Devgn has no film in hand right now

Jacqueline Fernandez After the successful Race 2 she is yet to sign a film

Diana Penty stands without a project post Cocktail

Kajal Aggarwal two blockbuster hits but nothing in the offing

After doin three films last year, Esha Gupta has her slate blank

Amy Jackson after a disastrous debut she has no takers in Bollywood