NOVELTY - Preparation of 4-methyl-N(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-((4-(3-pyridinyl)-2-pyrimidinyl)amino)benzamide (I) or its salt, involves: converting 4-methyl-N-(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-amino-benzamide (IV) or its salt into the compound (I).    USE - For preparation of 4-methyl-N(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-((4-(3-pyridinyl)-2-pyrimidinyl)amino)benzamide (claimed) (Nilotinib) which is used as an antitumor agent.    ADVANTAGE - The process is more efficient than prior art processes, with high yields 60-97%. The reaction times in the process are low (about 9-20 hours) at each step as compared to the reaction times 12-65 hours for many of the steps in the prior art process. The process avoids the use of obnoxious, foul smelling and difficult to handle reagents, which makes the process environmentally safe for commercial application. The process is efficient, economical and viable for plant scale operations. The process allows preparation of a stable form of Nilotinib hydrochloride dihydrate, which was previously believed to be unstable.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) new intermediate of 4-methyl-N-(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-amino-benzamide (IV);    (2) new intermediate of 4-methyl-N-(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-guanidino-benzamide (V);    (3) preparing the compound (IV), involving: reducing the nitro moiety of 4-methyl-N-(3-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-nitro-benzamide (III) or its salt;    (4) preparing the compound (V), involving reacting the compound (IV) with cyanamide to obtain the compound (V);    (5) new intermediate compound (III) or its salt;    (6) preparing the compound (III), involving reacting 3-(4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenylamine (XI) or its salt with 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoyl chloride (IIA) or its salt;    (7) new crystalline form of a compound of formula (I) or its salt which has specific X-ray powder diffraction patterns as given in the specification; and    (8) a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound (I) or its crystalline form in association with a diluent or carrier.