Salman-Vivek clash in the offing

Salman Khan"s most ambitious film till date Veer has been scheduled for a November 27 release. But on the same date Dharma Productions" yet untitled film starring Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi and directed by Rensil D"Silva is also being planned for a release.

It will be for the first time that any of Salman"s film will clash with old foe Vivek Oberoi"s. While, Salman-written Veer is a much bigger project with a budget of 100 crore, Vivek"s film can prove tough competition to Veer because of its topical subject and coming together of Karan Johar and UTV's smart marketing strategies. It is learnt to have a plot line quiet similar to that of 1999 released Hollywood thriller, Arlington Road.

In the film, Saif and Kareena play a Muslim couple who are terrorists living a double life. Vivek is the second lead in the film and he is also a terrorist. Minissha Lamba plays a journalist who is his love interest. Om Puri also has an important role in the film. Irrfan was approached to play the role of a terrorist in the film but he turned it down.

One may recollect, in April 2003, Vivek Oberoi had held a press conference at his house complaining about Salman Khan harassing him over phone and giving him life threats for his then relationship with Aishwarya Rai (Now Aishwarya Bachchan). Salman had that time not reacted to the negative publicity he got from this episode but it is learnt that he made sure that Vivek was almost ostracised by most industrywalas. After his break up with Ash, Vivek has on many occasions attempted brokering peace with Salman, but the controversial Khan has always chose to ignore him and hinted that he would never forgive him.