Kareena turns down the Azharuddin Biopic

Kareena Kapoor will not play Sangeeta Bijlani, makers looking for a younger actress.

While the trade is buzzing with Kareena Kapoor being roped in to play Sangeeta Bijlani in the Tony D'Souza-directed biopic on Mohammed Azharuddin, Mirror has learnt that the actress is no longer associated with the project. A source close to the development informed Mirror that the actress had been in advance talks with the makers but has now decided against doing the film.

Said the source, "Kareena had intended to do the film and even had a few meetings with Ekta Kapoor (the film's producer). But the talks were at a preliminary stage. No paperwork had been done. Bebo is more keen on Abhishek Chaubey's drugs drama, Udta Punjab, which goes on floors around the same time. She has started preparatory work on it."

The source added that since the Azhar biopic goes on floors on May 1, the makers are now looking for another, younger actress who will be able to commit a good chunk of dates to the film. The name should be finalised by January end."

When contacted, Tanveer Bookwala, the Chief Creative Officer of Balaji, told Mirror, "We hadn't finalised the actress to play this role. In our construct, we are skewing a much younger actress and still bouncing around ideas internally as to who would play this feisty character." While Emraan Hashmi plays the controversial cricketer, Prachi Desai will essay the role of his first wife, Naureen.

But Bijli is yet to strike!