Mani Ratnam's is not the only Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan film in the works.

Talk is that Chennai-based adman, cinematographer and director Rajiv Menon has zeroed in on the star couple in his second Hindi project tentatively titled Dhun. According to our source, Abhishek and Aishwarya have been finalised for Rajiv’s movie, which will be produced by Eros Entertainment.

Love in reel life
It’s a music-centric love story which will be filmed in Mumbai and London. AR Rahman will compose the music for the movie scripted by Menon and Bhavani Iyer (Black).

Menon confirmed the news, stating, “I was toying with the film’s storyline when I was doing the cinematography of Guru. I had narrated the story idea to Abhi and Ash.They liked it and wanted to hear the script once I had written it. Recently, before Abhishek went to Miami, they were finalised.”

I had narrated the story idea to Abhi and Ash.They liked it and wanted to hear the script once I had written it. Recently, before Abhishek went to Miami, they were finalised--Rajeev MenonDate scare
Shooting for Dhun will start only in February 2009, informs Menon, since the couple will first wrap up Ratnam’s film. Then Aishwarya will shoot for Shankar’s Robot with Rajnikant.

Trade talk was that Saif Ali Khan was initially considered Dhun. To that the director says, “How did you know that? There was uncertainty about Abhi’s dates. Eros, which is working with Saif for another project, and had discussed Dhun with him. He liked the subject and was interested in being a part of it.”

All’s well
Subsequently, Bachchan Junior’s dates were sorted out and he signed up for Dhun.

“I didn’t ever meet Saif for the film specifically. Eros had spoken to him about it. They’ll be in a better position to comment on that part of the story,” Menon riposts.

Menon, who’s currently completing a commercial for a tea brand, is also scripting a comedy. So will he make that as a quickie before Dhun?

“Can’t say. You never know,” he signs off non-committally. Menon had directred Minsara Kanavu (dubbed into Sapnay), with Kajol and Prabhu Deva, over a decade ago. With Aishwarya Rai and Tabu, he had directed the Tamil film Kandukondain Kandukondain nearly eight years ago.