Anurag Basu has picked Kangna Ranaut as his choice to play the beauteous Madhubala in his biopic on Indian cinema's singing legend, Kishore Kumar.
Anurag defends his casting choices, "There was no role that she could do in my current film, Barfee. It does feel odd to be working without her.
But I'm sure we'll work together again. It could be in Kishore (what the biopic is called)."
This, despite the director's recent fallout with his favourite actress, after her outburst against him.
Anurag admits he was hurt. "If she had a problem with me regarding her role in Kites or whatever, she could've picked up the phone and told me.
Why go public about it? Yes, that hurt. I think she was upset because she was left out of the publicity of Kites.
But we wanted to pitch it as a Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori love story." Anurag maintains, "We are and always will be friends. There's no problem from my side."
Kangna as Madhubala?
Common folk on what they think of Basu's pick
PR professional Anu Chanana: "Not at all! Only Madhuri can do justice to Madhubala's role. Kangna is not suitable for the role. She is just a glam doll."
Radio jockey Sakshe Bhatt: "No. Priyanka Chopra or Aishwarya Rai are better choices. Kangna is good, but she lacks grace and poise and also has a strange accent which wont go with the character of Madhubala.. She suits the Tanu Weds Manu kind of films more. Ash is full of grace and perfect for the role.
Production executive Disha Mundkur: "No I don't think so. Why? It's disastrous. She looks plastic-like. Madhubala was an epitome of beauty. She was much more. She was charming, graceful, and vivacious. I think Madhuri is a good choice. She comes closest to Madhubala in terms of looks and grace."
B-Town historian Dinesh Raheja: "Kangna has the zest and vitality Madhubala possessed. She is pretty but not in the same mould. Madhubala was considered the Venus of the industry and had a very spontaneous laughter. I have not seen Kangna laugh because she plays intense roles."
