Kareena Kapoor was all set to begin working on her lover Saif Ali Khan’s debut film (as a producer) Agent Vinod. Now it seems, the Sriram Raghavan (Ek Hasina Thi and Johnny Gaddaar) directed film has been put to the backburner, at least until late next year, in order to allow Khan’s second home production with Deepika Padukone get underway. Sources also confirm that the delay is also due in part to the fact that Raghavan is currently working on a film with Rohan Sippy. That film stars John Abraham and Aishwarya Rae Bachchan in the lead roles.

The second film of the two ventures will have Imtiaz Ali donning the director’s cape for Khan and his  production house Illuminati Films Pvt. Ltd. (with co-producer Dinesh Vijan (Being Cyrus)). After being thoroughly impressed with Ali’s work in the Kareena Kapoor/Shahid Kapur starrer Jab We Met, Khan met with him to discuss working together.

Although the Khan/Ali film is still being scripted, we are told that it is a love story with a number of realistic elements. Padukone will be starring as the leading lady, once she signs on the dotted line. Sorry Bebo, looks like Deepika takes the first spot with Saif this time.