Sallu wants only Kat!

Filmmaker Boney Kapoor is having a tough time finding a leading lady for the Hindi remake of the Telegu film Pokhiri, starring Salman Khan.

After Deepika Padukone (who is making her debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om) backed out at the eleventh hour, Kapoor zeroed in on Tamil actress Asin, who played the female lead in Pokhiri.

She is making her Bollywood debut with Aamir Khan's remake of the Tamil superhit Gajini, and is also doing Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Dilli 6.

According to an insider, Asin has even done a test shoot for Boney and he thinks she is perfect for the part. The only hitch: Salman wants girlfriend Katrina Kaif to do the role!

Face value

Our source says, "This is not the first time Salman has asked a producer to sign Katrina to play his romantic interest in a film.

He did the same thing with Rajkumar Santoshi for London Dreams. The problem is, Boney wants a new face for Pokhiri."

But Kapoor defends Katrina, saying, "Katrina does not need to be promoted anymore.

After Namastey London, she is doing very well for herself. As for her casting in the film, I am looking for a new face opposite Salman. That answers everything."

Pokhiri, which has been bought by Kapoor at the highest ever price paid for the remake rights of a South Indian film, tells the story of a ruthless man who tries to knock down the mafia by becoming a part of it.

Actor-choreographer Prabhudeva, who also directed the Tamil version, will direct Kapoor's Hindi remake.