Soojit Sarkar hunts for Amitabh's love interest

Director Soojit Sircar of Yahaan fame is looking for a suitable actress to play Amitabh Bachchan's love interest in his untitled venture to be produced by UTV, one of the most prestigious productions houses in Bollywood.

After Cheeni Kum, one would have expected the filmmaker to bring the Amitabh Bachchan-Tabu pair together. And so it was, when Shoojit Sircar decided to make a film about a 50-plus couple, who discover togetherness and love. But Tabu reportedly dropped out.

Interestingly, the script written by Renzel d'Silva of Rang De Basanti fame is inspired by a concept from a Hollywood film.

"That Hollywood film is yet to be made. But my producer, UTV, has decided to acquire proper copyrights anyway. When we told Amitabh Bachchan about the subject, he also approved of getting the proper right from Bollywood. We don't believe in doing things underhand," Sircar told IANS.

He will begin shooting his yet untitled film by the end of January but hasn't finalised the leading lady yet.

"We're looking at a few names. Apart from Amitabh Bachchan, it features Diya Mirza in a key role. As for the leading lady, we need to take a call right away," said Sircar.

Though he refuses to speak about it, the fact of the matter is that after Tabu dropped out of the script, several names were being considered.

Apparently, UTV has zeroed in on Shefali Shah and Sarika as the two strongest contenders for the coveted part opposite the Big B.

UTV seems to be hooked to 50 plus love stories. The other such UTV film on the anvil about a 50-plus couple re-discovering love is called Phir Kabhi.

Mithun Chakraborty and Dimple Kapadia play a couple in the movie.