Esha dhooms into Jannat - replace Kangana

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Posted: 18 years ago

Esha dhooms into Jannat
By: Vickey Lalwani
July 4, 2007

Deol replaces the hard-to-get Kangana in Mahesh Bhatt's new offering

Sairway To Heaven: Kangana Ranaut

Esha Deol was not the first choice for Mahesh Bhatt's Jannat, to be directed by first-timer Kunal Deshmukh.

Vishesh Films first tried to rope in Kangana Ranaut who worked with them in Woh Lamhe, but then cast Esha when Ranaut did not give them dates.

Date problem

Says a source, "Mukesh had considered Kangana for Pooja Bhatt's Dhoka too, but Kangana refused Pooja's film.

Mukesh was magnanimous to consider her again for Jannat. In fact, Kunal Deshmukh called up Kangana but she did not give dates."

eshmukh confirms, "Kangana was not committing on the dates, so I did not pursue her."

Preponed

Sairway To Heaven: Esha Deol

Mahesh Bhatt explains that two reasons led to this change in the female lead. "One, Jannat got preponed. Emraan (Hashmi, the film's lead) came with some dates in July and August.

Two, it is advisable to shoot in London in August rather than in November and December. Esha is a good actress and she embraced the role," he says.

How did they rope in Esha? Mukesh Bhatt called up Hema Malini, who told him that because the banner fleshes out strong women-oriented themes she was happy that they wanted to cast Esha.

Then, Deshmukh went and met up with Esha. "Esha loved the script and her role. She is very professional. We have done the costume trials too," Deshmukh reveals.

Glam gal

What does Esha play? Deshmukh explains, "Esha plays a middle-class working girl who rises with Emraan in a rags-to-riches story."

Deshmukh further says that he is working on a new look for Esha.

"She soars from a middle class girl to a super glam girl. Esha and Emraan will look great together. It's a fabulous combination," he signs off.

In a nutshell

Jannat is a love story set against the backdrop of corruption that rampant in cricket today.

The film goes on floors on July 20. Jannat will be shot in Mumbai, London and Sharjah (UAE).