MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan will start shooting for his sequel to Excel Entertainment’s Don by mid next year. The movie will also star Priyanka Chopra. Excel Entertainment, which made the remake of the original film, has confirmed that the film is being planned and shooting for it should start by the April 2010. Farhan Akhtar will be directing this sequel.

The director, who has been busy facing the camera with Rock On and Luck By Chance, has no time to wield the director’s baton until the summer of next year.

Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Akhtar says, “I like to direct films, but only one film in two – three years. I did Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, Lakshya in 2004, Don in 2006 and so in 2010, you will see a film from me, for sure.”

Excel Entertainment head honcho Ritesh Sidhwani adds, “Don 2 has been planned since we started scripting for the first film. Farhan will be able to give time for this film next year. In the meantime, we are busy writing the script and doing the pre-production work required for such a film as the audiences will be expecting a lot from it.”

Don 2 will take off from where Don ended. The surprise ending was a departure from the original version. And keeping with Akhtar’s penchant for making films with a difference, one can well expect the unexpected with his sequel.