/> Will he, won't he? For months now producer-director Sanjay Gupta and actor Manoj Bajpai have been at loggerheads over Bajpai's fee for and inclusion in Gupta's new film Shootout At Wadala.

The standoff had apparently ruined the dosti between the two former best-friends, with both parties sticking to their points of view regarding Manoj's fee.

The stalemate between the two finally culminated in a compromise last week where Gupta, impatient to get his full cast in place, pointblank asked his buddy-actor if he's doing the film.

Apparently Manoj demanded a fee on a par with the film's other leading men John Abraham and Anil Kapoor.

Says a source, "Gupta tried to reason with Manoj however since Gupta wanted Manoj for the part of Dawood Ibrahim's brother Sabir Kaskar, Gupta finally gave in and agreed to Manoj's price."

When contacted Manoj dodged the issue of the conflict with Gupta and said he was looking forward to playing Sabir Kaskar.

However Gupta admitted to the argument over the remuneration.

Says Gupta, "It was long due. I had written the role with Manoj in mind. I had to get a yes or no out of Manoj since we start shooting next week and the rest of the cast is in place. Manoj has agreed at his price."

Haviing got his pound of flesh (read: desired remuneration) Manoj now goes into intense preparation for his part.

Says Gupta, "I've given him hordes of reference picture of Sabir. The character was very flashy flamboyant and in-your-face. Manoj has already started growing his hair in a way that was trendy in the 1970s. I'm glad he's doing the role I wanted him for. This would be his first serious gangster's role since Satya."

And yes, Manoj needs to put on those dancing shoes again.

Remember him dancing wildly in the song Sapne mein milti hai with Shefali Shah in Satya? In Shootout At Wadala Manoj would have to perform a full-fledged Mujra.

Explains Gupta, "Manoj's character has a mistress named Chitra who's a tawaif. Manoj would have to break into a full Mujra with her."

Manoj is apparently getting Saroj Khan to teach him some steps for the Mujra.