Imtiaz Ali's double whammy for Sajid Nadiadwala

Ranbir Kapoor is all set to have the busiest year of his career so far. In 2013 he will complete 3 films: Abhinav Kashyap’s Besharam, Abhinav’s brother Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet and then in September Ranbir starts his film with director Imtiaz Ali, a comedy which would feature him opposite Anushka Shrama. Randeep Hooda owes one to Ranbir Kapoor. Thanks to Ranbir, Imtiaz Ali will be directing two back-to-back films in 2013. On 1 February, Imtiaz begins shooting the road movie Highway with Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt. He wraps up this road film by April 2013 to release it in June, and goes into his film with Ranbir Kapoor on 15 September which would star Ranbir with Anushka Sharma. Both the Imtiaz Ali films would be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Says a source, “Randeep owes Highway to Ranbir Kapoor. Imtiaz was all set to go on the floors at the beginning of 2013 with his Ranbir starrer. But then it was decided between Imtiaz and Anurag Kashyap—who are close friends-- that Ranbir would first shoot for Kashyap’s Bombey Velvet before going on to Imtiaz’s film in 2013.” Suddenly Imtiaz’s team was at a loose end. Says the source, “Imtiaz suggested to producer Nadiadwala that instead of waiting for Ranbir to be free of Bombay Velvet they can make another film Highway a script that he has ready and planned to shoot later.” Highway would feature the entire core crew of producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Imtiaz Ali, cinematographer Anil Mehta and music composer A R Rahman from the film that Imtiaz would direct with Ranbir Kapoor in the lead from 15 September 2013. Highway, our source informs us, is “a travel tale, a road movie, a romance between a chirpy girl and a brooding stranger which would take the pair to Himachal.” The film’s lead pair Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt was Imtiaz’s choices. “Nadiadwala had no problems convincing Alia Bhatt to step into Highway since she was already committing to do another film with Nadiadwala. She instantly agreed. And Karan Johar happily allowed his “baby-doll” to be hop over to Nadiadwala’s production house,” says our source. While Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Nadidwala remained unavailable for comment one gathered that Imtiaz’s two films in 2013 would be diametrically opposite in mood. Says the source, “Highway is the story of two unlikely travelers journeying to Himachal Pradesh. Imtiaz’s film with Ranbir would occupy the light comic space. They have done a very serious film Rock Star together. Now Imtiaz and Ranbir just want to have fun.”