Grapevine has it, the ‘Raajneeti’ fame director Jha, who along with his team is presently shooting for his forthcoming flick ‘Aarakshan’, in Bhopal, was displeased with the protagonists of the movie, as they were turning up late for the shoot.

The filmmaker, who demands discipline from actors, didn’t hem and haw in asking Deepika, the leading lady of his flick, to be on the sets on time.

However, Deepika was not the only one who was not punctual, as her co-star Saif Ali Khan also turned up late sometimes.

In a conversation with the media, a source said, “Deepika and Saif are invariably late for the shooting despite there not being many options for partying in Bhopal.”

Saif’s presence made Deepika comfy
During the shooting of ‘Aarakshan’ in Bhopal, a scene was to be shot in a college campus and the leading lady Deepika on seeing the huge crowd that had gathered over there, got edgy.

But, as soon as the Chhote Nawab joined the hottie in the second half of the shoot, she became hassle-free and felt quite comfortable.

“Deepika was much more comfortable when Saif came on set. He made her feel relaxed and put her at ease,” said a source.

Later on, after winding up the shoot, the actress chitchatted with the college students also.

Ajay’s loss is Saif’s gain
Tabloids have it that the celebrated actor Ajay Devgn who had worked with Jha in the latter’s latest blockbuster flick ‘Raajneeti’, turned down the proposal for the lead role in ‘Aarakshan’ on grounds of imbursements.

Consequently, Saif was approached for the role and roped in.

In the movie, Saif is being portrayed as a lecturer, who belongs to a socially backward class. The main spice in the movie comes when he gets smitten by Amitabh’s daughter Deepika Padukone, who plays an upper caste girl.

A source close to the film unit said, "Saif plays an educated man from an underprivileged class. Outwardly, he seems like the last candidate to play such a socially and economically backward character. He is from the super-elite crust of social hierarchy and he looks the part."

Prakash Jha’s upcoming multi-starrer
Directed by Prakash Jha, ‘Aarakshan’ is a multi-starrer flick featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Prateik Babbar and Manoj Bajpayee in the lead roles.

The movie revolves around the strategies of social groups, reservations in government jobs and educational organizations.

The motion picture which is mostly being shot in and around Bhopal is slated for an Aug. 12 release, this year.