Farhan Akhtar: Director, actor, now cricketer?

After playing a rock musician in Rock On, Farhan Akhtar will now be playing a cricketer in Abhishek Kapoor's upcoming film.

An adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's book, 3 Mistakes Of My Life, the character is being described by sources close to the project as a "mix of Aamir Khan in Lagaan and Aamir Khan in 3 Idiots".

This means Akhtar will be brushing up on his cricketing skills, much like Khan did for Lagaan. Always a cricket enthusiast, the director-turned-actor intends to take cricket lessons from a professional coach.

Said a source, "Like Aamir in Lagaan, Farhan plays a cricketer and a patriot. While, he doesn't need lessons in patriotism, he sure needs to be taught the nuances of cricket."

As for the similarity with 3 Idiots, the source said, "Both novels Five Point Someone (on which 3 Idiots was based) and The 3 Mistakes Of My Life are about the journey of three friends.

Both films have a character who forms the moral backbone of the plot. Aamir's character, Rancho in 3 Idiots is akin to Ishaan, the character that Farhan will play."

The earlier plan was to cast three newcomers in the film. But sources confirm that with Akhtar playing Ishaan, the other two would have to be known names.

Said a source, "Farhan's company is producing the film and he expressed a keenness to be part of the project. Newcomers can't play Farhan's friends."

Interestingly, Akhtar has not chosen the main protagonist's part. The role of one character named Govind, will have to be played by a young Gujarati actor.

Said the source, "Farhan chose Ishaan's role because he wanted to play the cricketer's part."

Akhtar isn't the only aspiring Jack-of-all-trades in the family. Cousin Farah Khan who started her career in Bollywood as a choreographer, then made her debut as director with Main Hoon Na, is set to turn actor in Bela Segal's, Shirin Farhad.

Though Khan is half-Parsi, she is nervous about playing the role of Shirin, a 40-something Parsi woman, vying for the love of Farhad, who will be played by the irrepressible Boman Irani.

"I am spending time with lots of Parsis, trying to catch their accent, observing the way they dress, walk and interact," said Khan. We guess, intense preparation runs in the family.