Reigning stars teaming up with new directors

Even as Shah Rukh Khan is all set to work with Maneesh Sharma, other big stars like Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan too are teaming up with relatively fresh directors.

In his two-decade-long career, Shah Rukh Khan has had most of his hits with directors such as Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra and the late Yash Chopra. But earlier this year, he worked with Rohit Shetty for the first time (in Chennai Express) and created box-office history. Now, it looks like he is set to work with another new director — Maneesh Sharma of Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) and Shuddh Desi Romance fame.

Apparently, Shah Rukh is already in talks with the film-maker. “SRK has really liked the story. Now, it remains to be seen what his next step will be because he is yet to green-light the project formally. Most probably, Maneesh’s film is on, with Shah Rukh in the lead,” says an industry insider. If all goes well, the film will go on the floors around mid-2014.

While SRK couldn’t be reached for comment, his office safely maintained that “as of now, he only has one film in hand — Happy New Year.” But last month, he had said in an interview, “I will take a month off and then start a new film. There is Maneesh Sharma’s film on top, Rahul Dholakia’s movie and few other offers on which I will take a call.”

From left to right: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar

Other big collaborations
It’s not only SRK, other popular names are also gearing up to work with young directors. If trade buzz is to be believed, Salman Khan has given his nod (although officially, the makers’ spokesperson denied the news to us) for Ali Abbas Zafar’s (of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan; 2011 and Gunday fame) next. Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film might hit the floors in early 2015.

Aamir Khan, who is also working with one-film-old director Vijay Krishna Acharya in Dhoom:3, feels that this is his “toughest role” so far. “I have never played anything like this before. Every film is challenging, but this was a tough role. I had a great time working in the film,” said Aamir, at the movie’s trailer launch.

Also on the list is Akshay Kumar, who is working with two-film old Punit Malhotra in the Karan Johar-produced film, Gutka. Punit — largely known for his rom-coms like I Hate Luv Storys (2010) — is confident that he will show Akshay in a different light. “It’s a drama and completely different from what I have made earlier,” Punit says.