Salman Khan's upcoming production venture "Jugalbandi" was supposed to feature Saif Ali Khan, but latest reports suggest that Fawad Khan has replaced the "Rangoon" actor. It has been reported that Saif walked out of the project and then the makers of the film roped in Fawad for the role.
A Daily News Analysis report said that Saif had already been paid the signing amount of Rs. 1.5 crore and he will either return the money to the makers or the sum will be adjusted in another film. The movie, "Jugalbandi," to be produced by Salman Khan Films, will also feature Anil Kapoor.
Saif was supposed to play the character of a young London-based musician, who collaborates with a senior musician, played by Anil, and eventually they become friends after they join hands for a jugalbandi. However, the duo's friendship suffers a crack due to ego clashes and that forms the crux of the story.
While some reports say that Fawad has replaced Saif in the movie, another report suggested that Saif is still very much part of Salman's production. "We have not approached Fawad Khan. We did not got to him. It is not true that Fawad is doing the film. Saif is very much part of the film," the Press Trust of India quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, Saif will next be seen in "Rangoon." Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, "Rangoon" will present the actor as a filmmaker. The film also features Shahid Kapoor as an Army officer and Kangana Ranaut as an actress.
Fawad, who made his Bollywood debut with "Khoobsurat," has garnered much appreciation for his performance in the recently-released movie "Kapoor and Sons." The film, also featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt, did excellent business at the box office. On the other side, Saif's last movies "Humshakals," "Happy Ending" and "Phantom" failed to impress the audience.