by Subhash K Jha

It's finally over. The wait for this year's most eagerly anticipated film is over...or nearly. With the Big B's recovery, the remaining portion of Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna (KANK) is expected to be finished shortly Karan Johar has zeroed in on the date for release.

KANK is to be released on either August 4 or 11. "It could be either of the two Fridays," he says, currently neck-deep in post-production and just recovering from a severe bout of laryngitis.

This would be the first Karan Johar film that won't be released for Diwali. "We can't afford any delays. The film has gone way beyond budget. I can't reveal the figure. But it's astronomical. And then on top of that, there are all these rumours about what I've made. Kya kiya hai Karan Johar ne???

People expect this Karan Johar film to be a shocker. To some extent they will be shocked. I've gone into a different area of cinema and human relationships this time.

It takes me back to a state of complete honesty. I've done exactly what I want to do in KANK without caring about boxoffice results. To that extent KANK is my most uncompromising film since Kuch Kuch Hota Hai."

The Shah Rukh Khan-Rani-Mukherjee-Preita Zinta-Abhishek Bachchan quadrangle shot almost entirely in New York, goes into areas that might jolt audiences.

"How much so we shall soon know," says Karan as he awaits 'D' day in August.