SONAKSHI, SONAM, KAT: Who'll make a HOT Mandakini?

With Akshay Kumar joining the cast (reportedly playing a character based on gangster Dawood Ibrahim) and Emraan Hashmi reprising his role, the hunt is on for the leading lady for a character reportedly based on yesteryear actress Mandakini, who was rumoured to have been close to Dawood.

While the makers scour for the perfect actress for the role, we take the look at heroines who would make a stunning Mandakini on screen.

Click through the slide show and vote for your favourite at the end!

Sonakshi Sinha

The actress is the leading contender in the race. The fact that she's already doing two films with Akshay Kumar -- Joker and Rowdy Rathore -- has not deterred the makers from making her their first choice.

Sonakshi's contemporary Sonam Kapoor is also among the names being considered for the role.

While Mandakini was petite in her heydays, Sonam is tall and skinny. But she could still pull off the role.

Deepika Padukone, who bagged Rajinikanth's much-anticipated film Kochadaiyaan earlier this year and, as the latest reports indicate, has patched up with Saif Ali Khan, is also in the running to play the female lead.

It'd be interesting to see the spunky actress play moll.

Image: Deepika Padukone
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

Telugu actress Illeana D'Cruz, who's getting ready for her big Bollywood debut with Anurag Basu's Barfee featuring Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor, would be interesting actress to consider, we think.

Having a new face feature in this ensemble cast could spice up the scene.

Ameesha Patel, we think, would be perfect to play Mandakini.

With a milk-and-peaches complexion and a knack for cleavage-flashing clothes, nobody can work moll-and-Mandakini combo better than Ms Patel.

Ms Livewire Mallika Sherawat is back in Bollyland. It would be a riot to see this seductress play a retro moll!

Neha Dhupia is the most delish actress we have. Just look at her killer social do looks and you'll know what we mean.

Also, she has done a similar role, albeit with comic undertones, in Akshay Kumar-starrer Singh Is Kinng.  ⭐️

The sexy model and actress has a killer body and we've got proof in Rascals where she flaunted her body in tiny bikinis.

She could be a modern day version of Mandakini onscreen.