Director Abhinav Kashyap said Sonakshi Sinha was his first choice for 'Besharam' opposite Ranbir Kapoor. He, however, revealed that Ranbir didn't agree to it, saying he's uncomfortable and asked him to cast Katrina. "Ranbir had asked me, 'Katrina wants to do the film, so consider her'. I said, 'She's not right for the part, I need a Punjaban'," Abhinav recalled.