A different era

Ashutosh Gowarikar has almost finished WHAT'S YOUR RASHEE? and he also has his next project well in sight. The LAGAAN director is all set to direct an English film based on the life of Lord Buddha, which will be produced by industrialist BK Modi. It is obviously a big budget one, with Rs200 crore being earmarked for production. "The film will be titled BUDDHA," reveals a source.

Modi has initially wanted to make the film with Deepak Chopra and Shekar Kapur. But because of differences in the trio's opinions, the movie was shelved. "We are not making that movie anymore, unfortunately," Shekar had said then. But it looks like modi was not ready to give up on his dream project. And so, he called on Gowarakar who portrayed the ancient enlightened saint in Shyam Benegala's popular TV series, DISCOVERY OF INDIA. Incidentally,benegal too wants to make a film on Buddh, but with Hirthik Roshan in the lead! Now, that's another story says Gowarikar, "The script has been written David ward and the movie will go on floors in may 2010 and finish by end of that year. The pre-production work of finalising the location, technicians and artistes will begin this month." The location, going by what Gowarikar says, is more or less finalised. "BUDDHA will be shot in the foothills of the himalayas." But why this huge budget to shoot an ascetic's way of life? "We will be filing an era which is far removed from toay. Re-creating it will be an expensive proposition,' says Gowarikar.