By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) After teaming up with Ranbir Kapoor in the hit film “Bachna Ae Haseeno”, director Siddharth Anand has signed his childhood buddy for his next film too. The surprising thing is the casting of Priyanka Chopra opposite the young actor for the first time.

“It is a romantic comedy, which I’ve specialised in over the years. But this is a twisted one with a twang and all that jazz,” Anand told IANS.

Though neither producer Sajid Nadiadwala nor Anand are willing to confirm, but according to dependable sources, Priyanka who is currently shooting with Uday Chopra for Yash Raj Films’ “Pyar Impossible”, will be cast opposite Ranbir.

The actress has lately been window-shopping for the hottest male actors in Bollywood and has so far managed films superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. She also has several projects with Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan.

And Priyanka has just completed “Kaminay” with Shahid Kapur. She is now on to the new generation of stars with Ranbir leading the bright pack. The pairing spree certainly gives Priyanka an edge over her rivals.

It seems the never-say-die friendship between director Anand and actor Saif Ali Khan is over for all practical purposes. After their two films together “Salaam Namaste” and “Ta Ra Rum Pum”, the two had sworn to work together again.

But “Ta Ra Rum Pum” didn’t do well and Anand quickly gravitated towards his childhood buddy Ranbir for his next film “Bachna Ae Haseeno”, which was a hit.

After “Bachna Ae Haseeno”, it was widely believed that Saif would be back in Anand’s next for Nadiadwala.