Is there such a thing as too many collaborations? Not when it comes to Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan. In April, the two delivered a hit in Bhooth Bangla, and are now readying their September release, Haiwaan. That’s not it. mid-day has learnt that the actor and filmmaker will reunite soon after for their ninth collaboration ­­— a comedy thriller.

Originally, Hera Pheri 3 was on the cards. However, the National Award-winning filmmaker recently announced that he is no longer helming it. That has freed him up to set another project in motion. A source said, “Priyadarshan has written the story, which is a combination of fun and thrills. The film will roll by the year-end, most likely in December. Akki and he are excited about the project because though he has attempted comedies and thrillers in the past, he feels this belongs to a genre that he hasn’t attempted before. He will develop the screenplay with Rohan Shankar, who also worked on Bhooth Bangla.”