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News is that a cold war is brewing in the industry. This time between Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowarikar.

Reason: Gowarikar has already announced releasing Jodhaa Akbar toplining Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai during Diwali 2007.. and now the news is that Khan too plans to release his home production Taare Zameen Par at the same time.

A source close to Khan revealed, “Though, the shooting of Taare Zameen Par is over, he doesn't want to release in July as it was planned earlier. From April 23, he’s going to be busy with the shooting of his next film, the remake of Tamil film Ghajini  directed by Murugadoss. So Aamir has decided to postpone the release of Taare Zameen Par to Diwali.”

Why the long delay if the shooting is already complete? Khan apparently wants to be present during the post-production of Taare Zameen Par.

“Since he believes in doing one thing at a time, he has decided to keep the post-production of Taare Zameen Par on hold for some time as he’ll be busy shooting,” informs the source.

Curently, Murugadoss and Khan are busy finalizing the female actors for the movie. And buzz is that Priyanka Chopra and south Indian star Asin are almost confirmed for it.

However, trade sources insist that Khan has intentionally postponed the release date so that his film could clash with Gowarikar’s mammoth venture. “Aamir is well aware of the fact that Jodhaa-Akbar is Ashutosh’s most extravagant project so far. On the other hand, Aamir’s home production is made on a moderate budget with him playing the lead and the rest of the cast doesn’t boast of any known names either. So he’s doubly confident that it will rake in the moolah,” says a trade industry source.

In addition to that, Khan had recently said that Taare Zameen Par would be his only release this year. “So it’s all the more obvious that there’ll be a high level of curiosity about Aamir’s film among the audience,” says the trade source.

It may also be recalled that Khan had stood by Gowarikar when he had a tough time find ing a producer for Lagaan. But after that, Gowarikar moved on to work with Shah Rukh Khan in Swades and now Hrithik Roshan in Jodhaa Akbar.

Sources say Khan was not too happy with Gowarikar’s moves ever since.

Let’s await for Diwali 2007.