Years ago, Subhash Ghai had signed Madhuri Dixit for a dance number in Karma. But so impressed was he with the actress that he went on to singh her as the leading lady in his films Uttar Dakshin and Ram Lakhan.
Cut to Anubhav Sinha who was all set to get Bond actress Caterina Murino, who played Solange in Casino Royale, for an item song in Cash.
"I realised I was wasting her presence in one item number," confesses Anubhav, who has now signed Murino for the lead in his next film Chase.
The slick action flick, which Anubhav describes as his last blast, will be shot entirely in Italy.
"Chase will feature three new Bollywood actors, certifiable star material, whom I'm grooming right now opposite Murino."
Anubhav's production associate Aditya Bhattcharya, who has a second home in Italy (Aditya is married to an Italian), is supervising all the pre-production details of what Anubhav describes as the mother of actioners.
"After Dus and now Cash I need to take the action genre further. Chase will be as far as it goes. Then I'm done with these slick flicks."