'Fan' actor Shah Rukh Khan won't star in remake of Rajesh Khanna's 'Ittefaq'

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will not play any role in the remake of Rajesh Khanna's "Ittefaq." But, the "Fan" actor's production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, will be producing the film, which was produced under the BR Chopra banner and directed by Yash Chopra in 1969.

"Ittefaq" was Yash Chopra's first film with Rajesh Khanna, who was a big star at that point. SRK's Red Chillies will reportedly collaborate with Abhay Chopra (grandson of BR Chopra and son of Ravi Chopra) for the remake, which will most likely go on floors this year.

"The work on the film has started and Abhay has spent a lot of time writing the subject. SRK won't play a part in it though; he is only producing the film. The casting is in process and it will mostly have new names. SRK has his hands full with Anand L. Rai and Imtiaz's next and is currently off movie commitments since he is nursing a knee injury," Deccan Chronicle quoted a source as saying.

The film, "Ittefaq," is a murder-mystery, in which Dilip Roy (Rajesh), a painter, is slapped with murder charges and later sent to an asylum, where he seeks professional help. It was reportedly a semi-hit at the box office and was one of the few films of the time that didn't have any song.

Interestingly, the Yash Chopra directorial was also a remake of a 1965 film "Signpost to Murder" starring Joanne Woodward, Stuart Whitman and Edward Mulhare. Shah Rukh's fans would have been happy if he had played the lead role of a painter, but the actor has a lot of projects to finish.

After "Fan," SRK will be seen in Rahul Dholakia's "Raees." He is also working in Gauri Shinde's yet-to-be titled movie opposite Alia Bhatt. He will also be part of an Aanand L Rai film, in which he plays a dwarf, and has signed another project with Imtiaz Ali.