SRK wants to work with Priyanka in his next film

Buzz is, Shah Rukh Khan wants to work with PeeCee in his next film. Will it be a Happy New Year for the actress?

The doors of Mannat may have slammed on her face, but Priyanka Chopra may not have burnt all her professional bridges after all. TOI has learnt that Shah Rukh Khan, who has been speaking very highly and fondly of PeeCee on camera, wants to be seen with her again on screen. And he is flexing all his muscles to ensure that she is paired with him in Farah Khan's Happy New Year, which goes on the floors next year.

Though Farah is tight-lipped about the developments, sources say there has been a spate of hectic planning and strategising to include PeeCee, the original choice for the role before the SRK-Gauri-KJo episode went live, to make a comeback with her hot co-star from Don. In fact, she may have edged out every one else in the race - including Deepika-to bag the part.

"Deepika, Katrina, Priyanka and Kareena were all in the reckoning," says a source. While Bebo is in no hurry to sign a new film, Anushka has no time. Deepika has already bagged Chennai Express with SRK, making PeeCee the default choice.

What is also working in PeeCee's favour is SRK's seal of approval. Sources close to both the stars say that a defiant Khan has been functioning 'like a man possessed'. "Always acutely conscious of his image as someone who put his wife on a pedestal, and his best friends before himself, he is now cocking a snook to all those who thought they had him wrapped around their fingers," says the source. And despite Gauri's obvious disapproval of PeeCee and the couple's old friends rallying around Mrs Khan, SRK has decided to throw in his might behind his controversial co-star.

"With PeeCee trying hard to get a toe-hold in the Salman Khan camp, SRK tried his best to leverage his association with his Jab Tak co-star Katrina. But she stonewalled all his efforts,"says the source. In fact, their tepid chemistry on screen and her curious disregard for SRK during their promotions had everyone from TV anchors to backstage boys chattering. Worse, despite SRK pitching Katrina for his stage shows abroad, she showed no interest.

After a tumultuous 2012, PeeCee's 2013 diary is choc-a-bloc with big-banner projects. The sharp-asher-stilettos actress, who was written off by a section of the media as 'untouchable' and heavily criticised for her 'proximity' to SRK, has Krrish3, Zanjeer, Gunday and Mary Kom lined up.

Sources say that even during the height of the SRK controversy, she had stood her ground and offered to show the 'affectionate messages' she had received from her friend, who had allegedly snapped ties with her on his wife's insistence. And while she has managed to woo back all those who had allegedly distanced themselves from her, she is yet to sign a film with Salman Khan. But that has more to do with old grudges nursed by Sohail (she had refused his Main aur Mrs Khanna) than anything else.

As for Farah, who recently managed to persuade SRK to rope in Shirish Kunder as editor for her film, it won't be easy to turn down her benefactor after all. Even if it means delaying a part of the film to accommodate PeeCee's dates. Not surprisingly, she maintains: "Happy New Year will go on the floors in April 2013 and we will announce the star cast in January next year. You may speculate if you want to... but I cannot disclose any name right now."