Aamir Khan cannot play 'a young boy role'

Mumbai: Actor-turned filmmaker Sanjay Kapoor, who is busy with his film It's My Life, says he roped in Hurman Baweja for the lead role instead of Aamir Khan because the senior actor would not have fitted the character of a young boy.

"You should be looking at what is your story trying to tell. For It's My Life', the role required a young boy. Now obviously Aamir Khan wouldn't have fitted in there. Similarly for the role of a father, I needed someone whose mere presence bears a commanding authority. Of course there was no other choice but Nana Patekar," Sanjay told IANS.

It's My Life is a remake of Siddharth and Genelia D'Souza starrer superhit Telugu film Bommarillu.

Considering Hurman has seen back-to-back failures in Victory and Love Story 2050, does Sanjay have a sense of regret for his choice of leading actor in the film?

"Not at all!. There are two reasons for that. First, you have to be confident about your guy. When I signed him on, Love Story 2050 had not yet been released but I still believed in him. Second, always remember that your product is more important than a star. A good product can work without a known name but a bad product with the biggest of superstars won't work."

Why didn't he think about any actress other than Genelia for female lead?

"Why should I have looked elsewhere when Genelia was just so perfect in the original film Bommarillu. The moment I saw her in the film, I didn't look elsewhere and decided there and then that she would be my leading lady in It's My Life too", Sanjay said.

Speaking about the diminishing boundary between main lead, parallel lead and the next lead in Hindi cinema Sanjay said actors like Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan helped in removing that.

"Look at Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti. How many actors would have dared to be one of the leads in the film that had so many other prominent characters. Still, he took up the challenge in spite of the director going ahead with almost equal footage to everyone."

He goes on to narrate other examples, "It's not just Rang De Basantibecause even in Dil Chahta Hai he shared frames with other actors. He is now doing the same in Three Idiots as well.

"I must also acknowledge the other actors who are no more insecure about their part in a mega starrer. Saif Ali Khan did what he had never before in Dil Chahta Hai. Now Sharman Joshi isn't worried when he is asked to be a part of Three Idiots."