/> It has got to be the most unexpected team of the century. Sudhir Mishra, the avant -garde director of such 'festival' films as Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Main Zinda Hoon, Chameli and Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi, is coming together with the Soap queen Ekta Kapoor.

The two met up earlier this week for serious negotiations. "And we hit it off unbelievably well!" says Sudhir, shell-shocked by the improbability of the combination. "I thought of Ekta as this spoilt little kid running around throwing her weight.

She used to be seen as a child when my first wife (the late) Renu Saluja would be editing I thought she's grow up into a pampered rich star-kid. But look at what she has done with her life and career! When I spoke to her, I was surprised by how sensible intelligent and clued-in she is."

Though of differing sensibilities Sudhir and Ekta are determined to work together. "I've already decided what I want to do. I want to re-make my first film Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1986) for Ekta. I gave her the film to see and she liked it. So I'll be doing a new updated and very different interpretation of my first film for her."

Sudhir wants to cast K.K. Menon and Viveik Oberoi for the roles originally played by Habib Tanvir and Pankaj Kapoor. "I'm entirely re-interpreting the whole plot. Otherwise there's no point in doing it again. The heroes will be younger and the dramatic tensions will have to be modified."

For Ekta Kapoor, the journey from Kya Kool Hain Hum to Yeh Woh Manzi To Nahin seems bizarre.

"That's the fun and joy of being a filmmaker. You've the freedom to do anything you want. And Ekta is exercising that freedom very intelligently," says Sudhir Mishra.

The film goes on the floors as soon as Sudhir finishes Bahut Nikle Mere Armaan for producer Prakash Jha.