Shah Rukh Khan to Romance Katrina Kaif in 'Happy New Year'?

Latest buzz in tinsel town is that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will once again be paired opposite his "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" co-star Katrina Kaif, in director Farah Khan's upcoming film "Happy New Year".

Reports of Katrina being roped in to play the female lead comes at a time when television artists like Ankita Lokhande, Jennifer Winget and Simran Kaur Mundi were said to be considered for the role. However, Katrina has supposedly bagged the project after the shoot her film "Bang Bang" was put on hold as her co-star Hrithik Roshan was recuperating from a brain surgery.

'The casting director of the film had already finalised the other three ladies. But with Hrithik going for his sudden brain surgery, the equations changed and Kat came on board. She is completely free for the next three months," the Mid-Day tabloid quoted a source as saying.

Earlier, reports surfaced that Farah had approached Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the role, but it seems that the actress rejected the offer as she would not be cast opposite Abhishek Bachchan, who is also a part of the project.

Later, it was said that Farah zeroed in on a newcomer for the film. Simultaneously, rumours were doing the rounds that Shah Rukh had suggested to Farah that they approach Ankita Lokhande, whom the superstar met at the IIFA awards at Macau.

Shah Rukh reportedly wanted an established actress to play the leading lady in the film. Eventually, the makers decided to sign Katrina who is free for a couple of months until Hrithik is fit to resume the shooting of "Bang Bang".

"The film is going on the floors from September 5 onwards and since they want around 40 days from Katrina, she can easily shoot the film through September and October," the source added.

Although no formal announcements have been made, Katrina has reportedly accepted to do the film and will soon fly to Mumbai from Srilanka, where she is holidaying with her alleged boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor.