Varun-Alia's next w/ KJO = DDLJ tribute

It has been eighteen years since Aditya Chopra's debut film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was released and the Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol chemistry became stuff of legends. The film went on to become one of the biggest Bollywood hits of all time and still holds the record of the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. The film also saw another director making his debut, although as an actor in a small cameo-and it was Karan Johar.

Although he was also an assistant director on the film and helped with the screenplay, he was most remembered as the lovable, bespectacled sidekick of SRK.

Now, KJo has not only established himself as one of the top directors of the country, but has also turned producer. And rumour has it he is planning a tribute film.

The fact that KJo has roped in SOTY co-stars Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan for his next project, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, has been reported. But Mirror has heard that the film is a tribute to the 1995 classic.

A source said: "Karan has always mentioned DDLJ as one of his favourite films. He learnt a lot on the sets of the film and it still holds a very special place in his heart. Now that he has established himself as a producer, he wants to pay tribute to the film which marked the beginning of his career."

However, the film will not be directed by KJo, but by newcomer Shashank Khaitan.

The source is quick to add that the film is not a remake of DDLJ: "Karan has no intention to remake the film. The characters of Varun and Alia will follow in the lines of Raj and Simran-the characters played by SRK and Kajol. The hunt for an actor to fit into the boots of the villain-the arrogant alpha male played by Parmeet Sethi-- is still on," the source elaborated.