Bollywood Director Ashutosh Gowarikar’s almost but over with canning What’s Your Rashee?, but he has his next project well insight.
He 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 Rs 200 crore being ear-marked for production. “The film will be titled Buddha,” reveals a source.
If you remember, Modi had initially wanted to make the film along with Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur. But because of differences in the trio’s opinions, the movie was shelved. “We are not making that movie anymore, unfortunately,” Shekhar had told us when we had asked him, then. But looks like Modi was not ready to give up on his dream project. And so, called on Gowarikar. Incidentally, it was Gowarikar who portrayed the ancient enlightened saint in Shyam Benegal’s popular TV series, Discovery of India. One more thing: Benegal too wants to make a film on Buddha, but with Hrithik Roshan in the lead.
But that’s another story, dearies... coming back to Gowarikar, he says, “The script has been written by Oscar winner David Ward. The movie will go on floor in May 2010 and completed by end of the year. But 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 Himalayas.” But why this budget to shoot an ascetic’s way of life? “We will be filming an era which is far removed from today. Hence to re-create it will be an expensive proposition,” says Gowarikar.
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