A few weeks back, Akshay Kumar made a statement in jest: “Karan (Johar) doesn’t take me in his films. He probably thinks I’m not good enough.” Call it a coincidence or just a stroke of luck, but we can confirm that the two will now be working together for the first time. By the start of next year, Akshay and Karan will collaborate on a film jointly produced by the former’s Hari Om Entertainment and the latter’s Dharma Productions. Punit Malhotra will direct it. Karan says, “I’ve wanted to work with Akshay since a long time. It’s amazing how the deal has come through so quickly. I met him at his gym, and we sat on the floor to discuss the nitty-gritties of the contract. We struck a deal in barely five minutes.”And the filmmaker doesn’t deny that Akshay’s comment may have triggered off the process.

“Actually, it may have started rolling after that. We met at a party, and what started off as a joke has turned into something serious,” says Karan, who has known Akshay’s wife, Twinkle Khanna, since they were kids.

He adds, “Akshay has a strong grip over stories and screenplays. He’s very clear about the way he wants things to be. The film is going to be a very hard-hitting, mainstream commercial venture with an edge.”

It will also star another male actor, who the makers haven’t decided upon yet. “We are far from casting a girl as well. The film hasn’t even been titled yet. For Punit, this is going to be a departure from his style of filmmaking,” says Karan.

Apparently, Punit has been working on this script for over a year now. He will start work on this film after completing his other project, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, which stars Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra.