Producer Bobby Pushkarna, whose film Page 3 bagged the National Award, has confirmed that Farhan Akhtar (who directed Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya) will direct his next film — a bilingual international project called The Journey (working title).

“It is a mega-budget venture, which will have four top Indian actors and one eminent artiste from the UK.

This will be in collaboration with London’s Blue Azure Motion Pictures, to be co-written by Sanjeev Datta and Andrew Hislop,” says Pushkarna, who also has Main To Chalaa lined up for October. The film will mark the big screen debut of Mona Singh, aka Jassi, and will be directed by M J Ramanan.

Was Farhan’s OK influenced by the fact that Bobby’s Page 3 won the National Award? “We had finalised our deal much before the awards were announced,” says the producer. “He loved the script and the scope for innovative treatment, else he wouldn’t have agreed.”

Pushkarna denies any fallout with Page 3 director Madhur Bhandarkar.

“We are still the best of buddies. There were creative differences, but it’s like a husband-wife relationship, where there could be bitter tiffs, yet they are always there for each other. If there is a worthwhile script, we will definitely work together in the future,” he clarifies.

The producer proposes to start filming The Journey after Akhtar is through with his Don remake.

What made him sign Farhan? “I was impressed by his guts to switch tracks from a youthful comedy (DCH), to a serious action-intense army backdrop (Lakshya). It is an honour for me to work with such a talented, down-to-earth director,” says Pushkarna, who is keen on casting Rani Mukerji as the film’s solo female lead.

The producer also plans to remake the Manmohan Desai blockbuster Chacha Bhatija, which was produced by his father Baldev Pushkarna.