Sridevi ditches, Karisma rescues Boney

Komal Nahta

A definite case of third time lucky, this.

Boney Kapoor had made great plans for wife Sridevi's comeback. Then she got pregnant with their second child, and Boney decided her comeback could wait.

He hit upon Kajol as a fitting replacement for the Hindi remake of his Telugu film, Anthapuram.

But then, Kajol begged off, too -- her mother-in-law hasn't been well, she needed to take care of her. Besides, she has decided to cut down on her assignments for now, anyway. Says Boney, "She (Kajol) told me that since was busy with her home production, Raju Chacha, there's only one new film she could start with at this juncture.

"Since she had committed herself to Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham before she signed my film, she decided to go ahead with it and leave mine."

And so finally, Boney signed Karisma Kapoor to star in his film. To be directed by Krishnavamsi, two heroes are still to be finalised, of which one is likely to be Shah Rukh Khan.

Interestingly, Karisma had opted out of Boney's earlier film, Judaai, just days before the cameras were to roll. Boney had then signed Urmila Matondkar in her place.

Now, Karisma has come to the producer's rescue.

That's not all. Sridevi will still be associated with the film -- as producer. For, this remake marks the launch of her own banner, Sridevi Productions. This film will roll in January 2001 and to be completed in June the same year.