Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.

Ashutosh Gowariker's love affair with period films continues. Evidently, he has not had his fill of making larger-than-life films even after making films like Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar. After wrapping up the Priyanka Chopra-Harman Baweja comic caper What's Your Raashee?, which releases on September 25, Gowariker will soon start making a period film, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. The film is based on journalist Manini Chatterjee's book Do and Die.

Abhishek Bachchan will play the lead role as the daring Surjya Sen (fondly called Masterda) who led the uprising.

Ashutosh Gowariker confirmed and said, "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is about the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. I have purchased the rights of the book Do and Die by Manini Chatterjee."

Commenting on the genre of the film, Ashutosh said, "It will be a period-thriller film with Abhishek playing Surjya Sen."

Gowariker is still finalising the rest of the cast for the film, which, surprisingly, will not be a multi-starrer despite its large canvas. Abhi's stylish shake to genda... wasn't overlooked. And full credit for this wonderful choreography, Abhishek insists, goes to "I, me, myself!" he says.

"You see Rakeysh (director Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra) wouldn't hire a choreographer for this song. Everyone was told that they could do whatever they wanted... So I just went with the flow, and did whatever I wanted... Now that everyone seems to like my dance so much, it's time I applied for a copyright. Nowadays I call it the AB dance," he explains. Whenever Abhi gets the opportunity to dance on that number, he makes for a jumpstart. Talk about chance pe dance. Abhishek Bachchan was in the city recently and he was trying to look for witty answers to questions aimed at him.

When asked to talk about his character Shankar Nagre in Sarkar Raj in 'short', he fell quiet for a few seconds and then said, "In short?" Receiving yes for an answer, he said, "I am trying to look for a witty answer to that question! Shockingly, I play Shankar Nagre in the film.

That's little!" But what's new about the film? "Aishwarya Rai is new to the film!" he said. When asked what title would he like to have ten years down the line in Bollywood, considering there are Shehenshah, Badshah and Khiladi in the industry already, Baby B said, "Who are Badshah and Khiladi?" Okay, his dad is Shehenshah... what would he liked to be called? "A capable actor and a good human being," was his reply. Throughout, Aishwarya nodded dutifully at everything he said. Well, those sure were good efforts at trying to be witty, Abhishek! Though you could do better, why not learn a bit from Pa B?

Meanwhile, when somebody mentioned Amar Singh's absence at the same do, Amitabh coolly said, "This function does not concern him and so he isn't here." But when the questioner persisted and asked why he wasn't there when he accompanied Amitabh 'everywhere', Bachchan senior replied, "Why don't you follow me when we leave the city? He'll be there." Hmm... it must be all about knowing when to be witty and when not!