Wanted Saif Ali Khan and Imran Khan for 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein': Director

Director Punit Malhotra's film 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' was initially meant to be a two-hero two-heroine project and he wanted Saif Ali Khan in it.

"At one point of time this film was a two hero-two heroine subject. I only went to the boys. It was Saif and Imran. But for some reasons that didn't work out. I then made it into a solo hero film," Punit told PTI.

Post his directorial debut 'I Hate Luv Storys', it took Punit long to come up with his 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein'.

"Imran (Khan) made me wait a lot. I took three drafts to him, he had issues with first and second draft. When I went for the third time, he approved the first draft only. That led to the delay but I have no complaints," Punit told PTI.

There were rumours that he had also approached Shahid Kapoor for the project. Punit admitted to having gone to another actor but did not wish to name him.

"Imran initially rejected it, so I went to another actor, but that didn't work out and I made the changes in the script and went back to Imran and then he liked the first draft itself," he said.

Saif did not agree to do the film and later it became a solo hero project.

"Things with Saif never worked out, but he said take Kareena. We also felt at some point that there is too much happening, so we mellowed it down and made it one hero film," Punit said.

"We were first waiting for Imran's approval and after that happened, we started thinking about the female lead opposite him. Imran asked me who I wanted, I said Kareena but I felt she was beyond my reach," the director said.

"Also she had lot of projects in hand at that time. Then it so happened that she walked out of those projects and her dates opened up. I called her, narrated the script and it worked out well," he said.

Punit has teamed up with Imran for the second time after 'I Hate Luv Storys' and it was relatively easier as they understand things and share a good rapport now. It was also easy to convince Kareena for the film.

"I narrated the script to her, she turned around and said I will do the film. I really thought she would bully us through the film. The first day she was coming to sets I didn't sleep the night before thinking what am I going to make 'Kareena Kapoor' do?" he said.

"That was the only time she intimidated us. After that we bullied her so much during the film," he said.

The film also has another heroine, Shraddha Kapoor, who is a good friend of Punit.

"There were supposed to be four characters in the initial script, part of that love story still remains. I turned it on its head and changed the equation. When I wrote this character, I had Shraddha in mind from the very beginning. Back then 'Aashiqui' hadn't released," he said.

Punit met Shraddha, she liked her part and agreed.

"The reason we didn't put her in the first promo is because we didn't want to mislead the audience that this is a triangle. She is a very integral part of the film," he added.