What is it about Bengali actress Paoli Dam that seems to have entranced the entire Bhatt parivar? When Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt were looking for someone to replace Prachi Desai in Jannat 2, Paoli was their choice (she ultimately opted out of the project, and was replaced by Esha Gupta). But Mahesh Bhatt’s loss was Vikram Bhatt’s gain. Vikram is now planning to cast Paoli in a film titled Hate Story.
“Yes, Paoli has been signed for Hate Story,” says a source from Vikram’s team. “It is being designed as Bollywood’s first bonafide erotic thriller and required someone who didn’t come with the baggage of a specific image and was game for some explicit scenes. An actress with a great body and attitude to boot was needed. Paoli fit the bill.”
Vikram’s team however, refused to comment on why Paoli is not working with the other Bhatts. “Paoli was signed by us first,” our source says. “She was short-listed way back in August and it was only after word of mouth spread about her being on board that Mahesh and Mukesh got interested.”
Paoli has already worked for directors like Rituparno Ghosh, and has earned a reputation as a “bold actress”.