The hot, young filmmaker is all set to take on Amitabh Bachchan's super cool '70s classic, Don.

Here, Akhtar gives a sneak peek into what will eventually go into making the film.

1. SRK takes on Bachchan
Shah Rukh Khan will play the Don and Vijay. "He's the absolutely correct age for the part, and he loved the movie. He's extremely excited about playing Don. We're both fans of the film, so it would be great fun to recreate the magic," says Farhan.

2. Priyanka takes on Zeenat Aman
Priyanka Chopra will play Roma, the Don's love interest. "She remembered the script by heart. The only thing she didn't remember was her own character," says Farhan.

3. Akshay to take on Pran?
Akhtar says that the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised, but a little birdie tells that Akshay Kumar has been approached to play Pran's role. Now wouldn't that be a bonus?

4. Amitabh will not do cameo
"It would be too gimmicky. Besides, Don isn't an archival classic like Devdas. Don is familiar to today's generation. I don't want to aggravate the comparisons by getting Mr Bachchan into my remake of Don," he asserts.

5. Don — the coolest Bachchan flick
Says Farhan, "It's the one Amitabh Bachchan flick that has stayed with me since my childhood. I think of all the cool films he did in the 1970s, Don was the coolest.

I'd put Mr Bachchan's character up there with Dostana in terms of his sharp-wit, wry dialogues and attitude. It'd be a re-interpretation of one of my favourite films."

6. Exploring new genres
"Lakshya was tough. Don would be a good change. It'll be an exploration of a completely new genre. It'll take me into an escapist zone. I'm sure smugglers and gangsters exist but I don't think such baddies exist beyond Don," says Akhtar.

7. Is Don going to be like Bond?
Farhan's Don will be gadget-friendly. Mobile phones will play a big part. Says Farhan, "Though I won't overdo the gizmos, I want to stick to the ideas and characterisations rather than rely on gimmicks. We've to keep in mind the technological advancement since Don was released."

8. The coolest film of our time
The makers of Don had to make many financial compromises. Today, the film may look very 1970s but I it was very cool for its times. "I'll try to do something that's equally cool for our times.

Unfortunately, when we think of action thrillers they take us to Mission Impossible and James Bond. I'm sure my Don would be influenced by those films and The Bourne Identity, because I love them too," says Farhan.

9. Khai ke paan banaras wala....
It was one of the biggest USPs of the '70s Don. "To recreate that would be impossible. That's why I'll make Shah Rukh Khan do Khai ke paan banaras wala.

It's left too strong an impression on me to be tampered with. As a viewer, I'd feel cheated if I didn't see Shah Rukh doing Khai ke.... The rest of the songs are being done by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy."

10. Copying it right
Certain procedures have to be followed in getting the remaking rights. The producers had to put in a public notice in trade papers announcing their intentions to remake the film.

Says Farhan, "I know the late producer Nariman Irani's wife Salma, so there was no question of making the film without her consent."

11. Start to finish schedule
The film will be shot between February and June 2006.

12. The original weighs on Akhtar
"Comparisons are bound to happen. That won't deter me from making Don the way I want to. I don't want my Don to look foolish, as I feel more people will come to watch my remake just to compare it with the old one," he says.