Aishwarya to play Mumtaz for Sir Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley who is best known for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film Gandhi is all set to produce and star in another Indian Film. Bollywood beauty-queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been signed to play the female lead in Sir Ben Kingsley’s film on India’s monument of Love - Taj Mahal.

Aishwarya Rai will portray the role of the legendary beauty Mumtaz Mahal opposite Sir Ben Kingsley who would play the role of Emperor Shah Jahan. The shootings for the film will go on floors next year and will be filmed in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.

Apparantly Aishwarya Rai was approached for this role during the shoot of ‘The last Legion’ last year. “I had spoken to Aishwarya last year while we were working on The Last Legion and she very generously agreed to do the movie with me,” disclosed Sir Ben.

When quizzed about further details regarding the movie, Sir Ben said, “The movie is on the building of the Taj Mahal. The romance will also include Shah Jahan’s abject isolation for years in a prison cell. My production house is working with a screenwriter on the project. I have very clear ideas about how I want to approach the subject.”

is Aishwaraya Rai’s next release. The movie features Hrithik Roshan in the lead opposite Aishwarya and is aiming for Jan 2008 release.

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