Love is in the air?

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Director Kunal Kohli must be a very nervous man these days. He pulled off Bollywood's latest casting coup by signing ex-loversShahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra for his ambitious next film.

However, after an elaborate spat the two stars had earlier this week, Kohli must now be spending sleepless nights over whether he will manage to complete his multicrore film peacefully.

For those who came in late, Kohli recently announced his yet-untitled project with fanfare, declaring that Shahid and Priyanka would play four sets of characters each in the film whose story spans four cities.

"The film explores four aspects of love represented by four couples, with Shahid and Priyanka featured in quadruple roles. Each segment will see the two stars sport a new look and will be set in a new city," a source in the film's unit said.

The Shahid-Priyanka spat happened earlier this week when they met and he expressed his ire at reports that said he was stalking her. They had an argument, which left Priyanka in tears.

"Shahid was surprised and angry at the cooked-up reports that said he was so desperate to get Priyanka back that he had started stalking her. He decided to confront her and clear the air," a source said. However, the confrontation led to an argument and Priyanka breaking down, complicating affairs.

The spat couldn't have come at a worse time because shooting of Kohli's film is scheduled to start within a week.

"Shahid and Priyanka parted ways a while ago but they have maintained a friendly and professional relationship. Now, the reports have created a rift," the source added.

For Kohli, who has directed hits such as Fanaa and Hum Tum in the past, his current film is his most ambitious venture yet. However, after the recent spat, the trade is apprehensive about the project. "Kunal Kohli took a calculated risk by choosing to cast estranged lovers Shahid and Priyanka solely because he was convinced only these two actors would suit the roles. Bollywood has a long history of ambitious films being shelved because of co- stars with personal problems.

A recent case where personal problems affected a film's fate was Boney Kapoor's Milenge Milenge. The film was launched when Shahid and Kareena Kapoor were an item. The two stars fell out while it was being shot, and producer Kapoor struggled against odds to finally release it last year.