/> In Ramesh Sippy's Sagar Kamal Haasan sang ‘O Maria' to Dimple Kapadia. As luck would have it Kamal Haasan has been offered the role of Mumbai's super-cop Rakesh Maria in Ram Gopal Varma's 26/11 film.

But there is a problem. And it's not just dates, though that too is a major but not insurmountable hurdle.

The main problem is the nature of the project. Ram Gopal Varma's 26/11 film is about terrorism. Kamal Haasan is currently acting in and directing a film about international espionage and terrorism.

He's also researching another film on the same theme which he will direct next.

Says a source, "It's a very sensitive theme, and one that Kamal Haasan is not ready to trifle with. Kamalji is currently putting finishing touches to Vishwaroop which takes into view the entire space occupied by global terrorism and world security. "

Also, playing a real-life cop would involve meeting the real cop over several sessions. "And Kamalji wonders if he would currently have the time to give to developing the real-life character that it demands, " says Kamal Haasan's friend.

Ramu apparently is keen to have Kamal Haasan on board.

When contacted Kamal Haasan confirmed he had been approached for the part. "Varmaji and I have spoken about the role that you're referring to. We've been coming close to working together for several years.

But there are problems that have to be sorted out. We're yet to sit down and discuss my character. I've been in Mumbai, but so tied up with the post-production of Vishwaroop that we couldn't discuss the character he has in mind for me. "