In an industry that worships success, it's common to see failure cause an end to many an association.

Buzz is that two childhood friends, one a famous actor (who just turned dad) and another a producer/director, have decided to part ways after a couple of their movies failed to make any mark. No wonder then that the latter is moving on to make his third movie with an action star now.

The director, who has delivered two box office duds (including a superhero flick) with his actor friend, has apparently taken a break to produce a couple of ventures under his family banner. Meanwhile, he's also working on the script of his third film as director. However, his actor buddy is certainly not in the running for the lead role, or any other role in this film for that matter.

Says a source, "Considering that the actor's last few films haven't exactly hit bull's eye at the box office, our director thinks that he's not lucky for him. Obviously, he couldn't say it to him in so many words."

So the filmmaker opted out the more convenient way and blamed astrology instead. "The director told the actor that he feels their stars are not in harmony. That's why their films together haven't worked. And that's also why he's planning his next directorial venture with another actor," adds the source.

Fortunately, for the filmmaker, the actor was pleased with his honesty. "He also told him that otherwise, he'd have worried why his director pal didn't cast him in his new movie. At the same time, he also wished his buddy all the best for his movie with the action hero," claims the source.

Not surprisingly, the director is very good friends with the star, even though the latter is a few years older. Besides, the action hero had acted in a movie produced under the filmmaker's banner a while ago. The formal announcement will apparently be made after the principal cast is signed for the movie.