Saif Ali Khan has just wrapped up the first schedule of his second production, Agent Vinod, and buzz is that this could be his last co-production with partner Dinesh Vijan.
"It's adevelopment, not a split,"Khan clarifies, insisting that Vijan and he will continue making films together under the Illuminati Films banner.
"I'm going to make more than one movie at a time, so I will be launching another production house and Kareena will be on the boardof directors. It's important for my growth as an actor-producer." Kunal Kohli'sHum Tum (2004) had fetched Khan a National Awardf or Best Actor. However, their second film together, the Indianised Mary Poppins, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008), did not create any magic at the box-office.
But Khan will team up with Kohli again for a third movie that the latter describes as "a story about love in unexpected places that will redefine the 'metrosexual' look."
Love in Spain
He will also gett ogether with Siddharth Anand (Salaam Namaste,2005) in a film the director says, is a"one-of-its-kind romantic comedy set in Spain, perfectly suited to Saif's ageand image".
Quiz the actor, who's just turned 40,on these two projects, and he reminds you that he flagged off the most successful phase in his career, and the trend of multiplex movies, with these two filmmakers.
"And from their scripts, it seems likethey've both evolved as writer-directors. It would be misleading to call the films deep.
They are designed as entertaining love stories, with catchy music, eye catchingl ocations, comic interactions, a crisis that drives a couple apart and a beautiful end that brings them together," says Khan.
"It's the kind of cinema our Indian audience enjoys and it has acertain relevance in today's world," he adds.
Vishal's next
He's also in talks with Vishal Bhardwaj,a fter the critically acclaimed Omkara, for two movies.
"Vishal has so many ideas, from a love triangle with a nightmarish scenario to a rustic action-thriller," informs Khan. "Let's see what comes out." He admits that he could be co-producing at least one of these three movies but it's unlikely that his working partner, Kareena Kapoor, would featurein any of them. "It would be exciting for the audience and me to work with other female stars," he reasons.
"I've never enforced my will on my producers and eventually it will be the director'scall, but it would be nice to pair up with Deepika(Padukone) again after Love Aaj Kal. And since I've never worked with Priyanka(Chopra) and Katrina (Kaif), we could be fresh 'jodis' too."
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