/> It hasn't been an easy time for the maverick moviemaker from Madras. Last month Mani Rathnam lost his younger brother in a freak accident. That isn't the end of his troubles.

His ambitious plans to adapt Ismat Chugtai's story Lajjo has come to a standstill. Reasons?

According to a source, "Firstly, there was a copyright issue over the story. Producer Bobby Bedi and Mani Ratnam couldn't see eye to eye. They had very different often clashing ideas on how Lajjo should've been done. Instead of getting into disputes from the outset, Mani decided to part ways with Bedi. "

This is Mani's second project with Bedi to have fallen through. Earlier there was talk of the two coming together for a rendering of the Mahabharat.

Though Lajjo has gone awry Mani isn't sitting still.

Says the source, "Mani is very keen to work with Aamir Khan. Not willing to let go of the opportunity to do so, Mani is already planning another project with the same cast. The scripting process has already reached a definite stage. And the replacement undertaking is expected to go on the floors from November 2007. "

The new project, currently under wraps is expected to have the same team of leading man Aamir, cinematographer P. C Sreeram (who has done most of Mani's earlier films) music composer A. R Rahman and lyricist Gulzar.

However it isn't very clear at the moment whether Kareena would fit into the revamped project.