Deepika Padukone, Salman Khan
Deepika Padukone, Salman KhanVarinder Chawla

Salman Khan and Deepika Padukone have, on several occasions, come this close to doing a film together and then have gone separate ways. The leading lady was offered "Kick" and "Sultan," but had to let go of the projects due to unavailability of dates. Now, sources say, the superstar is taking it out on her for not being part of his films earlier.

Ever since Deepika returned to Mumbai (she was shooting for "XXX: The Return of Xander Cage" in Toronto), she has been trying to fix up a meeting with Salman, but nothing has materialised yet, an insider told Deccan Chronicle.

If Salman were to be displeased with Deepika for rejecting his films, would she be finalised alongside him in Kabir Khan's "Tubelight"? "Deepika has indeed been finalised for the role and the makers will head to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for the shoot schedule which will begin in a couple of months," a source close to the development informed Mid-Day.

So, if Deepika is on board the project ("Tubelight" takes off in Ladakh in the coming month) she must have replaced Katrina Kaif? "There was strong buzz about Katrina Kaif being paired opposite Salman, but it is Deepika who has now managed to bag the film," the daily quoted another source as saying.

In Kabir's words, his next focuses on an emotional story, which is set against a political backdrop. "In terms of its emotional space it is similar to 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan.' But story is very different. It is more of humour and emotional space that we (Salman and I) haven't delved into," the Press Trust of India quoted him as saying.

"Tubelight" is the actor-director duo's third film together, after "Ek Tha Tiger" (2012) and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" (2015). It is expected to arrive in theatres on Eid 2017.