Sush out, Sonali in!

Komal Nahta

Musical chairs seems to be Bollywood's favourite game.

Mahesh Manjrekar launched Tera Mera Saath Rahen with Sushmita Sen as Ajay Devgan's heroine. But before you knew it, she was out and Sonali Bendre had taken her place.

Although producer Babloo Pachisia is tight-lipped about the reason for this lightning change, the director and Sushmita seem to have had a difference of opinion over the script.

Manjrekar had narrated the entire script before Sushmita agreed to do the film. But Sushmita, it is believed, wanted a second narration. What with his busy schedule -- the man has an incredible number of projects at various stages of production -- the director must have found this 'demand' too much: for his ego as well as his schedule!

So out went Sushmita and in came Sonali.

Mahesh Manjrekar has, in fact, just recently completed Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai with Sonali as heroine. This is the fourth film that Ajay and Sonali will work together in, after Major Saab, Diljale and Zakhm.