Vishal Bharadwaj’s next adaptation based on Shakespeare’s Othello will see Saif Ali Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma jodi, on screen for the first time. Konkona has been offered the role of Emilia, while Saif is to play her husband, and the villain, Iago.

The director has already finalised Ajay Devgan as Othello and Kareena Kapoor as Desdemona. To be produced by Devgan Entertainments, the film also stars Vivek Oberoi as Cassio, lieutenant to Othello.

Konkona of Page 3 fame says, “Yes, Vishal has approached me for the role of Emilia, and I would love to work with him,” She feels that Maqbool is one of the finest Bard adaptations in recent times. Saif is said to have signed the film and he is extremely satisfied with the script. Saif plays Iago the standard bearer to Othello.

“I think Saif is a fantastic actor; I am sure he will work with my mother in future. Currently his mother and sister are working in my mom’s first Hindi venture,” says Konkona. (Konkona’s mother Aparna Sen has sighned Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan for her Bengali film Goynar Baksho)

The director is searching for Bianca, Cassio’s love interest. To be produced by Kumar Mangat, the film will be launched in January and will wind up by April 2006. The director is now finalising the script and its technicalities.