Why Imran Khan first refused Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Punit Malhotra, who had earlier directed Imran Khan in I Hate Luv Storys, was sure that he would repeat the actor as one of his two leads. However, he was surprised when Imran didn't seem too keen to work on the film.

Believe it or not but when Karan Johar produced Gori Tere Pyaar Mein was first being put together, it was a two hero script. Punit Malhotra, who had earlier directed Imran Khan in I Hate Luv Storys, was sure that he would repeat the actor as one of his two leads. However, he was surprised when Imran didn't seem too keen to work on the film.

"Punit was unsure though whether Imran's reluctance was due to sharing screen space with another actor or stepping into the rural zone that Gori Tere Pyaar Mein was set in. Imran just plain and simple told him that the script was not working for him and Punit was forced to start exploring other options," informs a source.

It was a period of uncertainty for Punit as he moved to other actors, Shahid Kapoor being one of them. However, when that choice didn't work out either, he took the script back to Imran, albeit with certain changes.

"Trust me, that was the time when I really wanted to kill myself," says Punit after a hearty laugh, "Just imagine, I first take the script to

Imran as a two hero set up, then I rework on it to make it a one hero subject and he still doesn't want to come on board! He never told me if he was apprehensive about the two heroes setting so my other guess is that he was worried about getting into this rural zone. He only knows."

He goes on to add, "Yes, I did go back to someone and luckily it didn't work out either. In the interim period, I worked on the script all over again. For the third time when I narrated the script to Imran, he jumped on to it and said 'yes'."

The two did indulge into a mock fight immediately after Imran gave his nod of agreement. "Yeah, I just wanted to strangle Imran when he said 'yes'. I told him that 'yaar, tune six months barbaad kar diye hum dono ki life ke," smiles Punit, "But then you know how he is. He doesn't get into a confrontation mode. He just said that 'let's move on and make the film'. So here we are!"