Salman Khan's proteges are breaking free of his reassuring grip. After Katrina teamed up with his arch rival Shah Rukh Khan, younger brother Sohail is going solo. And that too with someone who's had a famous falling out with him.

Sohail has teamed up with Anees Bazmee who walked out of Ready following an ugly spat with Salman on the Bangkok sets- for the remake of a South film. And the film will not star Salman. Bazmee confirmed the news and said, "I am talking to Sohail for a South remake. Right now, I am in Cochin. Sohail and I will meet again as soon as I return.

But it's too early to say anything more about the film at this point." The industry has reacted to this development with shock and surprise. It was while shooting the climax scenes of Ready that Bazmee and Salman had a verbal pow wow on the sets, following which Bazmee abandoned the shoot and returned to Mumbai. Choreographer Raju Khan had taken over the mantle.

A friend of Sohail defended Salman, "How many films can Salman do? He has worked his butt off since the past four years. Sohail can certainly make a film without him." Apparently, Salman has told Sohail he has no issues with his collaboration with Bazmee, and that he does not mind not playing the lead in the project.

A source close to the developments added, "It will have newcomers in the lead with two actors in the 50-55 age group. It is expected to go on floors in the first quarter of 2013. One wonders about the fate of Boney Kapoor's No Entry Mein Entry which Bazmee has been writing for the longest time. Trade pundits have been speculating that Salman won't be part of this film either, what with Bazmee at the helm of affairs. Bazmee however remains optimistic about Sallu's entry in No Entry.