Mumbai, Jan 22 (IANS) When Priyanka Chopra has seven co-stars in her forthcoming film "7 Khoon Maaf", the question arises why isn't Shahid Kapoor, who shares an amazing onscreen chemistry with her and is reportedly her offscreen love, one of them? Well because he refused, revealed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.

"Shahid refused to do the film. That time he was preparing for the role in his father's film and for that he needed a particular get up, so he didn't have time to get a new get up for this film," Bhardwaj told reporters at an event in the Radio City office here.

"7 Khoon Maaf" is based on Ruskin Bond's short story, "Susanna's Seven Husbands". The seven male leads in the thriller include Naseeruddin Shah as the oldest husband, John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh, Irrfan Khan, Annu Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah's youngest son Vivaan Shah as the youngest husband and Russian actor Aleksandr Dyachenko.

The director also revealed that Priyanka was his original choice for the role.

"Priyanka was my original choice for the role. She is the finest actor of her generation right now. Whe I worked with her in ‘Kaminey', I realised how under-utilised she is. She has so much talent in her. As a director I had so much trust on her that I felt that no one else can essay this role as brilliantly as she would do," said Bhardwaj.

The film is slated for a Feb 18 release.