By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, March 7 (IANS): Not so long ago Vidyut Jamwal stepped in to play a role earmarked for Irrfan Khan in "Bullett Raja". Now director Tigmanshu Dhulia will cast them together in the same film.

But Irrfan and Vidyut wouldn't be seen together in the same frame as they will be cast as the younger and older versions of the same character.

"My next film is 'Bichhde Sabhi Baari Baari'. It's the story of two friends and their relationship over a period of 35 years. Manoj Bajpayee and Irrfan Khan have been cast as the older avatars of the buddies, whereas Amit Sadh and Vidyut Jamwal would play the younger versions of the same characters," Dhulia said.

But surely Manoj and Irrfan are accomplished enough as actors to pull off the age span?

"I don't think so," Dhulia averred.

"Irrfan and Manoj can't look 25. That's the age when the two protagonists become friends. I can't have Irrfan and Manoj playing 25-year-old men. That period was something else when Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz used to play college students."

"Today's audience won't accept Irrfan or Manoj as 25-year-old, just as they won't accept Vidyut and Amit as a 50-year-old or a 60-year-old. So I need two sets of actors," added the acclaimed filmmaker.

Vidyut and Amit will now have to spend some time with Irrfan and Manoj to get a hang of their body language.