The last time Farah Khan directed Shah Rukh Khan, he hit the gym with a vengeance. The results were the much-talked about six-pack abs he sported in Om Shanti Om (OSO; 2007). Now, as Farah gets ready to direct SRK again in Happy New Year, it seems like the actor will have to do a gazillion more ab crunches. This time, Farah wants him to sport the ultimate eight-pack.

A source close to the film’s unit says, “Farah has conveyed to SRK that they need to go a step further as the audience expects more from them as a team. SRK has agreed to work hard and get an eight-pack by the time the film goes on the floors around September.”

Though Farah refused to confirm the news, she gave us enough to read between the lines: “SRK was to take off his shirt in Main Hoon Na (2004), but he got away with excuses. In OSO, he kept his promise and worked hard to get that sexy look. He still has life-size pictures of those six-pack abs at his home gym.”

Will he sport an eight-pack?

“It’s been five years since he sported a six-pack, so of course we need to go beyond that. I need to present him differently. We will surprise the audience again. But until SRK says it’s okay to talk, I can’t confirm his look,” says the director.

SRK is co-producing the film with Farah. She says, “We make a good team. Our last fight has made our bond grow stronger.”