MUMBAI: After director Shirish Kunder’s fallout with Shah Rukh Khan over his next film titled Joker, Kunder has now signed Akshay Kumar for the lead role in the film.

Confirming the development to Businessofcinema.com, Kunder adds, “I plan to take the film (Joker) on floors by early 2009 and release it that year itself. The film requires immense pre-production work, which is happening alongside.”

While earlier SRK was to act in the film and produce it as well, now Kunder will be producing the film under his production house – Shirish Kunder Film Company. Kunder is also scouting for a corporate backing for the project.

Kunder and Akshay Kumar came together in the director’s debut film Jaan-E-Mann – Let’s Fall In Love Again.

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