So far it’s been hearsay only. News of Ranbir Kapoor and Imtiaz Ali getting together for an encore to Rockstar has been doing the rounds for some time now.

We now have a confirmation from someone very closely associated with the project that Ranbir and Imtiaz are indeed coming together for a film that Sajid Nadidawala would produce. And they’ve convinced A R Rahman to join them, although he’s seriously pressed for time.

Says the source, “Initially Nadiadwala roped in Ranbir and Imtiaz for a sequel to Rockstar. However neither the actor nor the director was enthused by the idea of leaping into angst-laden journey of the traumatized musician again, at least not at the moment. They suggested a completely antithetical film to Rockstar.”

We hear Imtiaz would now be directing Ranbir in a comedy rather than the Rockstar sequel.

“They needed to get away from the gloom of Rockstar. This time it’s an out and out fun film. And Ranbir-Imtiaz have coaxed A R Rahman to join the fun,” says the source.

The story goes that post his work in the new Yash Chopra film Rahman had decided to complete the songs of only one other Hindi project Aanand Rai’s Raanjhanaa before heading back to LA. But Ranbir and Imtiaz convinced Rahman to hop in for some serious masti.

The Ranbir-Rahman-Imtiaz-Nadiadwala project will go on the floors early next year.

Says our source, “Sajid Nadiadwala will first start the film starring Tiger Shroff in October and then Two States with Arjun Kapoor in December. Leading ladies for both have yet to be found. Then Sajid moves to the Ranbir-Intiaz-Rahman project.”

We can also tell you that Rockstar’s leading lady Nargis Fakhri has been left out of the core team.

The girl’s spate of tragic near-misses regarding the signing of a film post-Rockstar, continues.

Says our source, “Nargis is not part of the film that Ranbir-Imtiaz-Rahman are doing for Nadiadwala. An established leading lady, probably Katrina Kaif or Anushka Sharma, is likely to be cast in this full-on masti project.”