Producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali finalized Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan for his latest project ‘Gustakhiyan’. According to the reports from, Bhansali had already made his mind to cast the 34-year-old actress since the Bajirao Mastani filming days.
The film was previously offered to Fawad Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Abhishek Bachchan but Irrfan Khan was zeroed down to play the male lead.
Sources say that Irrfan Khan, who was to play Sahir Ludhianvi in ‘Gustakhiyan’, based on the poet’s life, is no longer a part of it due to date issues.
While, Priyanka Chopra has been finalised to play poetess Amrita Pritam. However, the actress is currently shooting for her second Hollywood film ‘A Kid Like Jake’ after which she will get busy with ‘Quantico 3’. As a result, she is still to dole out dates for the SLB movie.
A source had said earlier, “Irrfan has been on board from the start. He was our first choice and he remains our only choice to play Sahir Ludhianvi.”
Talking about Priyanka, the source said, “With her smouldering sensuality, outgoing personality and husky diction, Priyanka is the perfect fit for Amrita Pritam.”
Gustakhiyan will be directed by debutante Jasmeet Reen. The film will show the blow-hot-blow-cold relationship between the poet Sahir Ludhianvi and his bohemian inspiration, author Amrita Pritam. Their association lasted for nearly 40 years.