/> After almost a year of discussion and negotiation Irrfan Khan was finally coming together with David for the prison drama Hook Ya Crook which David starts shooting in January.

But the deal fell apart all of a sudden when Irrfan met David for final negotiations.

Reason? The director and the actor couldn't agree on the price.

Says a source, "Irrfan was very keen to work with David for a very long time. Hook Ya Crook is being produced by UTV with whom Irrfan shares a very close rapoort since Life....In A Metro. But Irrfan quoted a price that neither David not UTV were willing to pay up"

Result? The role of the jail superintendent in this prison-break story has now gone to the more-accommodating Kay Kay Menon.

The best part of the Irrfan-David non-collaboration is that the actor has not been informed about it.

When contacted in Rourkela where he's shooting for Tigmanshu Dhulia's Pan Singh Tomar Irrfan says, "As far as I know I'm doing Hook Ya Crook. But now you say I am not so I believe you because I haven't been in touch with them lately."

Says David Dhawan, "Irrfan is not doing Hook Ya Crook. I saw him in Dil Kabbaddi and I decided to cast him in an out-and-out comedy which Hook Ya Crook is not.. We'll work together for sure, " says the director dodging the actual issue.

The money.

While not commenting on price being the bone of contention with David Dhawan, Irrfan did say, "For too long actors like me, Naseer and Om have been taken for granted. Price- wise we've been anything but wise. Today when I've a certain standing why should I work for peanuts? Nobody is here to do anyone any favours."

Irrfan is right. How long would commercial cinema insist on taking seriously committed actors for granted?