Actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were conspicuous by their absence at the promotional event of the animation pic Roadside Romeo for which they are the main voice-overs.

According to sources, they simply refused to give time for any promotional activity related to this animation film. Says an indignant source, “Agreed that Kareena and Saif were just voices in the film and not actors. But considering how Hollywood actors like Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie go out of their way to promote the animation films by a Hollywood production major, the least Saif and Kareena could have done was to spare some time for this film. Or did they forget that this was churned out by the same Hollywood production major?”

Kareena, who has been promoting her other Diwali release, Golmaal Returns enthusiastically, made it clear to the Yash Chopra banner that she had no time to talk about Roadside Romeo. Meanwhile, Saif simply made himself inaccessible.

Adds the source, “This could be seen as a sign of change. Earlier, no actor dared to refuse this banner. But now, after the company has suffered a series of debacles, stars are no longer inclined to bend backwards to please the banner. Once it has a couple of hits, stars will be back to doing whatever the banner wants.”

This has left director of the flick, Jugal Hansraj all alone in promoting the movie.

However a spokesperson for the production house was mild in her words,” Well, Kareena was out of the country when the promos of Roadside Romeo started. And Saif did give some interviews.”