MUMBAI: Producer Raj Kanwar’s new film Raqeeb – Rivals In Love, is slated for a May 2007 release. The film is directed by Kanwar’s chief assistant Anurag Singh who makes his directorial debut with this film which stars Rahul Khanna, Sharman Joshi, Jimmy Shergill, Tanushree Dutta and others.

Pritam has provided the music score, which has been acquired by T-Series.

Says Raj Kanwar, “Raqeeb is a musical thriller. The story has many themes that are different, but are closely linked like shadows which never end. Seduction leads to love, love becomes betrayal, betrayal is motivated by passion, passion leads to obsession and then to crime. This crime reveals another betrayal which again is motivated by love.”

Raqeeb is budgeted around Rs 60 million (Rs six crore). Major portions of the film have been shot in Karabi, located between Thailand and Hong Kong. The film’s climax was shot on a huge set in Bangkok, says Kanwar.

Raj Kanwar’s last film Humko Deewana Kar Gaye starring Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu, released three years ago, did not do well at the box-office. Kanwar has earlier made films like Laadla, Jeet and Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega.