Twice before, they were almost finalised as the lead pair but it didn'thappen. However if all goes well, Katrina Kaif, who is gearing up to star inPrabhudheva's next “Namak”, will play the romantic lead opposite Shahid Kapoor for the very firsttime.

In 2007, Rajkumar Santoshi hadwanted to cast Katrina and Shahid in lead roles in the film he was planning todirect. Again, Imtiaz Ali's wife Preeti had wanted the pair to headline the2009 remake of the Korean film “My Girlfriend Is An Agent” that she was goingto produce.

“Namak” also marks thecoming together of Katrina and Prabhudheva for the first time. While the two ofthem got acquainted on the sets of Prabhudheva's Hindi directorial debut Wantedthat starred the actress' ex Salman Khan whomshe would visit on sets, they never got the opportunity to work together.

Apparently, Prabhudheva hasbeen wanting to work with the actress for the longest time. He had even offeredher an item number in a South film he was supposed to direct in 2010. That toofailed to materialise.

A source close to the filmtold TOI, "Katrina too is very enthusiastic about working withPrabhudheva. She knows he is a commercial director, who understands the pulseof filmgoers in the country. She has told him she will be free to do his filmafter Jaunary 2013. And Prabhudheva has no issues waiting for her to befree."

Katrina remainedunavailable for comment. Meanwhile, “Namak” supposedly revolves round the drugtrade and will see Shahid Kapoor as an action hero.