Real-life couple Kareena-Shahid have not exactly had a dream run on celluloid. They came a cropper in Fida, Chup Chup Ke and 36 China Town. They also have an unreleased film, Boney Kapoor's Milenge Milenge to their discredit.

But now in a film to be directed by Imtiaz Ali who made the quirky Socha Na Tha with Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia two years ago Shahid and Kareena will be seen "in a totally different light".

Says the director, "The Shahid-Kareena film will be about a chance meeting between two strangers in transit, extending into a charming North Indian adventure, and the drastically different effect the meeting has on the two protagonists."

After a year-long sabbatical Shahid has resumed his career with Aziz Mirza's romantic musical co-starring Vidya Balan. However, Imtiaz Ali's film will be the first to go on the floors. Ali starts shooting in March.

Says our source, "Before those two biggies Kareena had a choice between Ajay Devgan's comedy, Sunday, directed by Rohit Shetty and Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy. She chose the latter."