Odd couple Sonam-Abhay redux

The Sonam Kapoor-Abhay Deol jodi finds another taker. Dibakar Banerjee has cast the two in his next, Shanghai

Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol might well make their second coming in Dibakar Banerjee's next titled Shanghai.



While casting for the film is still on, well-placed sources inform us that that the Love Sex Dhokha (LSD) director has locked in the Aisha jodi as his lead pair. The two will be seen romancing each other in the political thriller despite having creative differences in their first film together.



Abhay was the director's first choice. The two had worked together on Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and share a great camaraderie. Reveals a source, "Apart from having a great work equation, the two are also good friends off the set."

Shanghai is a thriller that follows a particular incident that happens in Abhay's character's life and its repercussions on everyone around him."

The lukewarm response to Aisha didn't stop Dibakar from considering Abhay and Sonam as his lead pair. The source says, "Even though that film didn't work, it hasn't stopped film makers from approaching the two as leads for future projects", adding, "Dibakar has spent the last nine months working on the concept and ideation for the film. Unlike his previous films, this one will have violence as the core theme."

However, when contacted, Dibakar denied he has cast Abhay and Sonam as the leads.

Anil's in it, too?
Sources reveal that Anil Kapoor has been approached to play a negative role in Dibakar's film. Even though details are sketchy, it is learnt that Anil is quite excited with the subject offered. If he agrees to do the film, it would be the first time the father-daughter duo will appear in the same project. In the past, Anil and Sonam have been offered numerous offers, but have consciously avoided being cast together. Most of the roles were father-daughter characters, but since Shanghai offers Anil the chance to play a dark character, he showed immediate interest.

An adaptation
The film is being written by Urmi Juvekar and Dibakar himself and is a contemporary adaptation of the 1960 book titled 'Z', by Greek author Vassilis Vassilikos. Co-produced by PVR Pictures, Shanghai will go on floors by March 2010.