A source says, ‘Ash is one of the busiest actors in Bollywood today and the only one in her league, as she is in her mid-30s and yet much-sought-after. Her dates for Crooked are clashing with those of Vipul Shah’s Action Replayy. The film has been in the making for more than six months and is nearing completion, so it makes sense for Ash to finish it rather than start a new film. Also, Action Replayy’s shoot will take place mainly in Mumbai, while Crooked is a spy thriller that will travel around the world. So she won’t be able to accommodate both films simultaneously. So now, the makers are looking for three new faces altogether, and the auditions will have to be completed by early January, as the film goes on the floors in mid-January.’

Our source adds, ‘What’s more is that Zoya’s second film after Luck By Chance is also stuck as there is no heroine. The male cast of the film is very impressive with Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol. This film also needs a new face. She has to be sophisticated and Western so they are looking for someone from New York or London. She has to be Indian and a good actor to come at par with the trinity of talent.’ This is the second Farhan production in a row with no leading lady at the moment.

When contacted, Farhan said that it was very sweet of Hrithik to adjust his dates for Zoya’s film, and that he would be starting Don 2 in September 2010. He confirmed that they were looking for a few new faces.