Aishwarya Rai

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is set to star in a major film about the Taj Mahal, India’s famous monument to love.

Aishwarya will play the role of Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who built the stunning monument for her.

Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, who will also be producing the $30m film, will play Shah Jahan. Aishwarya is no doubt, one of Bollywood’s top stars and is hugely popular around the world.

The as yet untitled film will be produced by Sir Ben and is scheduled to be shot in India in 2008, Rai’s foreign agent Simone Sheffield told the BBC News website.

The director of the film has not yet been chosen and the script has yet to be completed, Ms Sheffield said.

Another Bollywood actress and former model, Bipasha Basu, will be playing the role of Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara. Ms Sheffield said Sir Ben had met Basu while co-hosting the Seven New Wonders of the World event in Lisbon in July, where they had discussed the role.

Aishwarya is presently filming Pink Panther 2, starring Steve Martin, Andy Garcia, Jean Reno and John Cleese, in Boston. She has worked in international projects with mixed results. In 2005, she appeared in the British romantic comedy Bride and Prejudice; and she also starred in Provoked, a film based on the autobiography of a victim of domestic abuse, who was convicted of the murder of her husband.

Ms Sheffield said Aishwarya was “considering two other films” for next spring.

“She is special because she can play different ages and ethnicities. Because of this, many producers and directors think of her in a wide range of roles,” she said.

Well, all we can say is to wish you Good luck in everything you do Ash.

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