New York, Aug. 12 : Film director Woody Allen was desperate to cast Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder in his film 'Melinda and Melinda', but had to jettison both the stars after failing to get insurance on them, says a book.

'Conversations With Woody Allen', scheduled for a release in October from Knopf, has been authored by Eric Lax.

The tome features personal account of the three-time Oscar winner as to what prevented Downey and Ryder's inclusion in the casting for the 2002 flick.

"I couldn't get insurance on them . . . We couldn't get bonded. The completion bonding companies would not bond the picture unless we could insure them," the New York Post quoted the director as telling the author.

The book further reveals Allen as telling, that Downey was recovering from years of drug addiction at that time, and till that time he had experienced several arrests and jail time.

Ryder, on the other hand, was on the mend from her conviction on felony grand theft for shoplifting from a Beverly Hills store in 2001, says Allen.

"The insurance companies are very prissy and sticky and gave us a hard time," Allen recalls.

"We were heartbroken because I had worked with Winona before [on "Celebrity"] and thought she was perfect for this and wanted to work with her again. And I had always wanted to work with Bob Downey and always thought he was a huge talent," he adds.

Upon their rejection, the two actors got upset with Allen as though he was the one who took the decision of not casting them, says the book.

"The actors got upset with us, like we're the ones who made the decision. But I felt we're the ones getting screwed every bit as much as them," Allen states.

Eventually, the film was made with Will Ferrell and Radha Mitchell, and it opened to mixed reviews.

Downey finally won back Hollywood's trust after he stayed sober and has starred in hit movies like 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and 'Zodiac'.

Ryder also overcame her issues, and has starred in just-released 'The Ten' and 'Sex and Death 101', which releases in October.