No Alia, No Film: Neeraj Pandey Tells Director Anvita Dutt

Alia Bhatt's career graph in Bollywood has mostly been all peaks and no valleys. And 2016 was a special year which established her as a bankable star and a powerhouse performer. But Alia's newfound starpower has got an unwitting victim.

Anvita Dutt was all set to make her directorial debut under Neeraj Pandey's production house. Neeraj and business partner Shital Bhatia's production house Friday Filmworks, which was formed in partnership with Reliance Entertainment, was onboard to make the film.

The script was ready and Neeraj only had one name in mind to play the film's protagonist, Alia Bhatt. The role was written keeping the young actress in mind and once it was ready, the film was pitched to Alia.

But unfortunately Alia told Neeraj & Co that she cannot do the film in question.

Now, Neeraj was in a quandary. He did not see anyone else in that role. In the end, he told Anvita that the film cannot be made without Alia. He has put the project on hold and told Anvita that she will have to start afresh on a fresh topic and a new film.

Alia meanwhile might be unaware of how her rejection has affected the film.

0n Sunday, the actress walked away with the Filmfare trophy for Best Actor (Female) for her performance in Udta Punjab . She had walked the red carpet with her elder sister Shaheen and mother Soni Razdan.

A few days ago, she won the Best Actor Female (Critics) SpotboyE Salaam for the same