Desi Local Mumbai Aunties: January 2011

After several aborted attempts to bring them together director Sajid Khan has finally managed to get Asin to star with Akshay Kumar in Housefull 2.

Deepika Padukone, who played Akshay's romantic lead in Housefull will not be part of the sequel. It must be mentioned that Deepika opted out of another project, Heer Aur Ranjha, which is being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, who worked on Housefull as well.

Her dates were apparently becoming an issue as far as this film is concerned. Heer Aur Ranjha has thus been pushed to year-end and now the makers are looking for a replacement for Deepika.

Meanwhile, Deepika had also been very keen on palying the lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Nadiadwala's adaptation of 2 States. But grapevine has it that the makers no longer find her suitable for the role. So, ostensibly, Deepika is now out of all Nadiadwala projects.

Asin has replaced her in Housefull 2. Asin was to play the lead opposite Akshay Kumar much earlier in her career in Bollywood.

This was when Priyadarshan had offered her De Dana Dan. However, Asin had opted out of that film then.

But considering her last film London Dreams turned out to be a box-office turkey, the actress can't really pick and choose her films right now. Naturally, an offer to act in Housefull 2 opposite Akshay Kumar was lapped up almost instantly.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala confirms Asin's presence in Housefull2.

Source: Asin replaces Deepika in Housefull 2 - The Times of India