De Dana Dan pushed to 2009

The super-prolific Priyadarshan's next comedy De Dana Dan, a kind of follow up though not a sequel to Hera Pheri for producer Ratan Jain (of Venus), just got bigger... and delayed.

The film now features Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Suniel Shetty, Neha Dhupia and Sameera Reddy.

Says the sultry actress Sameera, "I've never worked with Priyan before. But I think he liked my comic timing in Race, where I played Anil Kapoor's air headed assistant. That's how I got De Dana Dan. I've always been a big Priyan fan, by the way."

However, Sameera's enthusiasm will have to wait as the film's shoot has now been shifted from November 2008 to January 2009, partly because Priyan is busy with the Darsheel Safary starrer Bam Bam Bhole.

Sighs the super-successful director, "Bam Bam Bhole is not a small art house film. It's a full-on entertainer. And it needs nurturing. Once I release Billoo Barber, I need to promote Bam Bam Bhole properly. De Dana Dan with Akshay, Katrina, Sameera Reddy, Suniel Shetty and Neha Dhupia has gone forward by a few months."

This was meant to be the Southern sensation Asin's launch pad. "Yes," concedes Priyan. "But only initially. Once the script crystallized it was Katrina all the way."