Karma has its own way of teaching a lesson and actress Vidya Balan has just learnt one. Balan, who had walked out of Dhamaal 2 opposite Sanjay Dutt, has lost out on a solo heroine role in Sanjay Dutt Productions' first film Rascals to be directed by David Dhawan.

Balan had agreed to do Dhamaal 2 and quoted a fee of Rs. 1.5 crore which the producers felt was too steep and refused to comply. She in turn walked out of the project. Mallika Sherawat has been signed in her place.

Buzz in tinsel town is that when Vidya came to know about Rascals, she was keen to be a part of it and sent feelers to David Dhawan. But as fate would have it, her refusal to the sequel of Dhamaal cost her this project.

Apparently, Dutt, who was miffed with her refusing Dhamaal, didn't want her in the project. Previously Vidya and Dutt had worked together in Lage Raho Munnabhai.

However, the role in Rascals is that of a hep, youthful woman and everyone in the team thought that a fresher face would be a wiser option. David and Dutt along with Dutt's business manager and CEO of SDP, Dharam Oberoi narrowed down their choices to Lara Dutta, Kangna Ranaut and Anushka Sharma. Finally Kangna Ranaut was signed on for the film.

David Dhawan told Mid-Day, "Though Vidya is a fine actress, she didn't suit the role and that's why we didn't take her for Rascals. It's a comedy and we will work together in another film. Vidya is a good friend of mine and I am sure she doesn't mind."