/> The Grand Corporate Merger never seemed grander. It's now time for Ekta Kapoor's multi-million empire Balajee Films to come together with Suniel Shetty's thriving Popcorn Entertainment.

The two Big Daddys of Mumbai's entertainment business are coming together to make a bio-pic on the life of the alleged gangster Haji Mastan.

Though both the parties are tight-lipped on the subject, sources close to Ekta and Suniel reveal that the scripting for the Haji Mastan project is on.

Mahesh Manjrekar, a close buddy of Suniel Shetty who has been in creative hibernation and reeling under a series of directorial setbacks, has been signed to direct this ambitious film. Manjrekar is expected to bounce back big-time with this look at a life of the colourful alleged smuggler –gangster turned politician.

Says Suniel, "Right now I wouldn't like to comment on specific projects. But yes, Ekta and I collaborating for a number of feature films. What I like about her is her straightforwardness honesty and humility. When she met me she said, "I always wanted to do business with you.' I'm enjoying this collaboration immensely."

Adds Ekta, "When I decide to do business with anyone I've to be sure in my mind that the person is absolutely right for me. And it doesn't get any righter than Suniel Shetty."

The crucial question is, who will play Haji Mastan in the Manjrekar-directed bio-pic? Amitabh Bachchan had played a Mastan-inspired character in 1975 in Yash Chopra's Deewaar.

However he isn't expected to return to the role. The names being mention for the present-day project are Pankaj Kapoor and Mithun Chakbraborty, though no name is finalized yet.