Prabhu Deva is not one of the most talented of filmmakers in Bollywood presently; however, post the stupendous success of Rowdy Rathore, every actor in the industry wants to work with him. Case in point is Shahid Kapoor, who has off late acquired the reputation of being nitpicky about films. Reports suggest that when Prabhu approached Shahid to play the lead role in his next film Namak, much to the surprise of many Bollywood insiders Shahid readily agreed.

A trade source reports that post the initial speculation of who would play the lead role, Shahid has been locked and will feature as the lead. Namak, is apparently based on the drug trade in Madhya Pradesh and will see the actor in an action avatar. In addition, like most of Prabhu's other films, Namak will be a massy entertainer. Buzz is that Prabhu had been keen on signing Shahid after seeing his performance in Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey.

Trade reports also suggest that Katrina Kaif has been cast as the film's female lead; Desiclub.com's source reveals, "Prabhu first met Katrina when she would visit the sets of Prabhu's Wanted, which starred her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan. Prabhu has always admired her and has been wanting to cast her in one of his films. When he offered her Namak she readily agreed." Our source also tells us that the casting of Katrina has not gone down too well with Sonakshi Sinha. Apparently, Sonakshi who worked with Prabhu in his most recent hit Rowdy Rathore was hoping that after the success of their last film together, Prabhu would offer her his next film. However, unfortunately, Prabhu has now offered the film to Katrina, who has readily agreed to come on board and there is not much that Sonakshi can do about it. "Sonakshi was not too thrilled with the prospect of working with Shahid, she already turned down one film with him. However, when she heard that Prabhu was directing a film with Shahid she wanted to work in it because of Prabhu's box-office record. Sonakshi got along very well with Prabhu on the sets and was expecting to be offered the film; unfortunately, Prabhu was keen on casting Katrina. However, there is no way that Sonakshi is going to grumble and spoil her relationship with Prabhu," explains our source.

Incidentally, this is the first time that Shahid and Katrina will romance each other on-screen. A little known fact is that in 2009, Katrina was offered a Yash Raj film opposite Shahid but she turned it down because she did not want to upset Salman, who has never liked Shahid. Now with Salman in her history, there is no reason for Katrina to refuse a plum project opposite Shahid! Such are the dynamics of Bollywood.