Jacqueline to return to Race 3 with Salman only if A Gentleman works

By right, she should be in Race 3 with Salman Khan. After all Salman has shut down Remo D’Souza’s dance film and translocated the director to his project Race 3 with Ramesh Taurani. And since Jacqueline Fernandez was the leading lady of Remo’s dance film with Salman, she should rightfully be moved to Race 3 along with Remo. But here’s the thing.

Salman isn’t quite ready to make that move with Jackie. Of course, she was part of Salman’s big blockbuster Kick. But she was more the Kick producer-director Sajid Nadiadwala’s choice. They had worked together earlier in Housefull 3 and Dishoom — than Salman.

Ever since Kick the ever-enterprising Jacqueline has been making regular trips to Salman’s residence, keeping the faith alive, so to speak. But Salman made it clear that the aggressively ambitious Jacqueline won’t be any part of Kick 2.

And now there is a rider to Jacqueline’s presence in Salman’s Race 3. She will be allowed into this huge project only if her next release A Gentleman works at the box office. A source in the know says, “A lot is at stake in Salman’s forthcoming films. He can’t afford to slip up after Tubelight, not for his own sake as much as his audience and distributors. Jacqueline is most keen to be in Race 3. But Salman will exercise that option only if A Gentleman works at the box office.” Apparently, Salman’s team is monitoring the developments at the box office. If A Gentleman flops the role in Race 3 is likely to go to Deepika Padukone, who, like Jacqueline, was part of part Race 2.