/> The Big B is all set to get back to work with a vengeance. Foremost on his list of must-do are Mira Nair's Shantaram and Deepa Mehta's pseudo-historical Kamagata Maru (now entitled Exclusion).

While in principle the Big B has greenlighted both the mammoth international projects there seems to be a date problem around the corner, a seemingly insurmountable date problem.

Both Deepa and Mira, seen as fierce rivals among the female directors functional in international cinema, want to shoot their precious projects in winter.

If this is the case, then Deepa would be disadvantaged. Says The Big B, "I've already committed my dates to Mira whereas Deepa is yet to finish her script or lock in on the dates. So naturally Mira gets first priority."

Says Deepa, "After Water I'm locked away right now working on the script. It's not something I can rush through because it requires historic detailing. Exclusion would be my toughest film ever."

Script and date-wise, Mira has an edge. As far as casting goes Deepa has already zeroed in on Terence Stamp, John Abraham and of course Mr Bachchan who incidentally loved both Deepa's Water and Mira's The Namesake and would ideally not like to relinquish either project.

Laughs Deepa, "I don't know why Mira and I are constantly being put in confrontational situations. I loved her Namesake and she liked my Water. Now if we're both casting Mr Bachchan it shouldn't become a tug 'o' war between us."