Katrina Kaif as a silently suffering widow? Sounds like a contradiction in terms. But trust Ram Gopal Varma to opt for the unexpected with expected regularity.

Having cast most of the other major parts in his remake of "Sholay" (Basanti is still pending), Ramu has now signed the lovely Katrina Kaif to play the mutely grieving widow Radha in "Sholay".

Jaya Bachchan has already taken the part to heights of unspoken poignancy. You wonder what the glamorous Katrina can do with the part.

"Not so fast," cautions Ramu. "I've directed Katrina in 'Sarkar'. I know what she's capable of. She's a classic beauty. I'm casting her as a south Indian Brahmin's daughter-in-law in the film. I think re-locating such a glamorous girl in a deglamourised milieu would be interesting."

Ramu says in principle the widow's part will remain unchanged in the new version of "Sholay" even as it goes from one hand to another.

For the actress, playing a widow so early in her career is a gamble. Asha Parekh in "Kati Patang", Padmini Kolhapure in "Prem Rog" and Rekha in "Baseraa" gave career-defining performances in spotless white.

Perhaps Ram Gopal Varma's "Sholay" could rev up Katrina's career.