THE CON IS ON

Rumours are doing the rounds that Shahid Kapoor's con caper, Farzi, has been being shelved following the dismal response to its director duo, Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's last release, the Saif Ali Khan-starrer Happy Ending. "I'm wondering where this news, which is nothing more than pure speculation, came from," says an exasperated Raj. "This as random as it gets. Prep for the film is on in full swing. The secondary cast is being locked and the production design is being worked upon."

Explaining the delay, Krishna says: "Even after we lock the final script, we take two to three months to gear up for the shoot. We had never set a date. It was decided that once Shahid (Kapoor) and Nawaz (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) are done shooting for their current projects, respectively, we will start with Farzi. The film should roll latest by February." Farzi will see the director duo return to crime drama after 99 and Shor In The City.

Raj refutes the buzz the plot revolves around an internet hacking. However, he refuses to reveal more. "It is a contemporary film with a truly original storyline. It has a big canvas, some action and lots of satirical humour," he says. Meanwhile, Kriti who stars with Shahid in the film is already beaming. "It is a totally new part for a female protagonist. I'm really kicked!" she says.