It's final. Pankaj Kapoor's first directorial venture Mausam, starring beta Shahid Kapoor will now have a new leading lady selected from an all-India talent hunt that begins on 26 November.

The talent hunt will take Pankaj and Shahid on a six-city tour through Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. But contestants from other smaller cities around these six metropolitan centres can also participate.

Beta picks a girl

According to sources, although Pankaj Kapoor and the producers of Mausam Sheetal Talwar and Madhu Mantena will take the help of a television channel to shortlist the girls, the final choice will be left to Pankaj Kapoor. "And Pankaj will leave the ultimate selection of the girl to his son. Almost like a bride hunt," giggles a source.

Daddy ke liye

Shahid will also double an assistant on the his papa's set. It is learnt that Shahid would be helping his father in every department of this project. He has set aside all other projects, so he can be his father's right-hand man on his directorial debut. He wants Senior Kapoor's film to be as close to perfection as possible. And he also wants to learn the ropes of direction while helping his father on this film."

Adds the source, "Shahid has charged Rs 12 crore for doing Mausam. But the money is irrelevant. He is in this to make sure his father gets it absolutely right."