In keeping with its long-term production plans, Sahara One is teaming up with some of the most talented directors in the industry.

After Madhur Bhandarkar and Sujoy Ghosh, Sahara has signed on director Imtiaz Ali for "Highway".

"Highway" will be produced by Shabbir Boxwalla for Sahara One and will star Imtiaz's close friend and mentor Sunny Deol.

"The film, which tells the story of an intense relationship against the backdrop of a thriller, will have Sunny playing a very different role from the ones he has played so far," says Imtiaz, who won critical appreciation for his directorial debut "Socha Na Tha".

Imtiaz wrote the subject of the film two years ago when "Socha Na Tha" was under production and narrated it to Sunny, who gave it an immediate go-ahead.

"In fact, it was Sunny who reminded me about the subject when I was looking at various possibilities for my next film. I had approached a few producers earlier but the people at Sahara were more than willing to produce it."

Imtiaz has written another script with Sunny in mind. It will have Sunny playing himself, which is - reticent, shy and romantic at heart. "But that will have to wait for some time," he says.