Heroines play the game for plum roles? Who do u want in Mohenjodaro?

That Bollywood's leading ladies are fiercely competitive even though they often seem to be friends on the surface, is not new. But at times, the arena in which they play cat and mouse games are quite amusing. Presently, news stories over the casting of Mohenjo Daro has become a topic surrounded by Chinese whispers!

Ashutosh Gowarikar's Mohenjo Daro has Hrithik Roshan in the lead. This ambitious production will be a drama drawn from mythology and history. The first leak in it's casting emerged when 'reports' of Kareena being nearly confirmed for this role were carried. Then came a follow up story that Priyanka Chopra is also being considered for the same, both stories reported in two competing Mumbai tabloids.

Now, in a similar stream of back to back stories, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone's names have been thrown up, as heroines who were offered this role but decided to stay away from it due to 'date' issues.

The only girl in this game to come clean and genuinely expresses her interest in the role, without subtle messages sent through controlled newsprint, is Sonakshi Sinha.

While names of Bollywood divas get tossed around for the film in a cyclical manner, Rakesh Roshan has made it clear that the film is meant for a 'new girl'. Director Ashutosh Gowarikar remains undecided as of now.

So how do these stories emerge? Its a simple, effective formula- whereby publicists set up cherry picked, friendly journalists, and give out the story as barter or as a 'favour'. Cashing in on competitive media outlets, rumors about a certain leading lady 'turning down' a coveted role adds perception value to them- or so some believe!

In fact, the Mohenjo Daro cat and mouse game refreshes memories of the recent Sonam versus Deepika planted stories contest over the casting of PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO.

These publicity plant driven stories by Bollywood heroines reminds us of the adage by Sir Walter Scott, from his poem, Marmion, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!"