Salman Khan and Shahid Kapur are set to come together for Sooraj Barjatya’s next film — at least that’s what the director is hoping. In 2006, Barjatya made one of the year’s biggest hits with the Shahid and Amrita Rao-starrer, Vivah, a film that has since earned over Rs 50 crore.
Riding high on its success, Barjatya wants to make another blockbuster, this time with the Rajshri banner’s lucky mascot Salman and his new blue-eyed boy Shahid. Called Prem Vivah, it’s being touted as Barjatya’s dream project. However, all is not hunky dory between the actors.
Will he wing it?
What will make the coming together of these two actors difficult is the fact that problems erupted between Salman and Shahid during the 2006 Rockstars world tour.
It was rumoured that Shahid had tried teaching Salman how to do certain steps during rehearsals, and the temperamental actor had taken offence.
Later, there were problems regarding a cut in the stars’ remuneration that Shahid wasn’t happy about, further angering Salman. This lead to the actors eventually refraining from speaking to each other.
However, Barjatya’s intervention might just have his favourite actors starring together on the big screen. Says a source, “Sooraj is extremely fond of Salman. They have maintained a close relationship ever since he starred in Maine Pyar Kiya and became a star.
He wants Salman to be a part of every Rajshri film. Sooraj also wants Shahid in Prem Vivah, as he gave them one of the biggest hits of 2006. He is trying his best to sort out problems between them. It would be a casting coup if he wings it.”
Mix and match
So what’s with the title, Prem Vivah? Says the source, “Salman has been called Prem in all of Sooraj’s films and Vivah is the last big hit from the banner, hence that title.
Currently, Sooraj is writing the script. Once he’s done he’ll approach Salman and Shahid for dates; both know about the film. It’s all very hush-hush right now. No one wants the news to leak till everything is finalised.”
When we touch base with Barjatya, he says cautiously, “The subject of my next film hasn’t been decided yet, so the characters have not been fleshed out.
Hence, casting is not finalised. Rajshri is working on three films to be directed by young directors, and currently work is in progress for those films.”
As for Salman and Shahid being on his wish list, Barjatya says, “I wouldn’t like to comment.”
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