Breaking News! Bollywood Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been offered the role of Mughal Queen Mumtaz Mahal by none other than renowned actor Sir Ben Kingsley, who was the lead actor in ‘Gandhi’ that won Oscar Awards 27 years ago. The 65-year-old Kingsley will play the role of Emperor Shah Jahan in his upcoming movie on Taj Mahal.

It is not confirmed yet whether Aishwarya Rai will accept the offer or not. Interestingly, Ben Kingsley’s wife will play the role of Kandahari Begum, who was the Shah Jahan’s first wife. The shooting of the film is expected to begin next year. Sir Ben had earlier worked withAishwarya Rai in the film, ‘ The Last Legion’ in 2007.

Twenty years back this actor has delivered an Oscar winning performance in the Hindi cinema by playing an ultimate role of our ‘Father of Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi. Now he is getting back in the Indian Film Industry for the flick ‘Taj’ with Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

In his forthcoming segment Ben Kingsley is back to India with his planning to play Mughal emperor Shahjahan with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Mumtaz Mahal in the epic love story ‘Taj’. Kingsley’s actress wife Daniela Barbosa de Carneiro will play Shahjahan’s first wife Kandahari Begum. This film is a tribute to India’s culture and heritage.

In this flick, the 65-year-old actor will portray the role of Shahjahan in the period romance with 34-year-old Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who will play the role of his beloved wife. Kingsley last worked with Aishwarya in ‘The Last Legion’ in 2007.

Aishwarya said, “During the shooting of the ‘The Last Legion’ Kingsley had shared the idea with me. I have just received the draft of the script and now we are planning to take it forward.”

“All of this is held together by love and the power of love, which rise above the prison cell and even death, I am looking for Indian producers and finances for the film.” Kingsley said.

Kingsley has also revealed, “The film is a salute to the culture which draws its nourishment from its ancient heritage, its belief systems, its morality, mythology and ethics. Filming is a very modern way of telling stories.”

Ben Kingsley, the renowned Hollywood actor who enacted the character of Mahatma Gandhi with panache in Richard Attenborough’s Oscar winning flick ‘Gandhi’, is all set to play the part of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan opposite gorgeous Aishwarya Rai in upcoming flick ‘Taj’.

The movie is going to be made on a huge scale with its cost going upwards of Rs 125 crore and the shooting starting in the autumn of next year. The focus of the flick will be on the intrigue, pain, loss and the decisions that went into the making of the Taj Mahal.

The flick will especially portray the helplessness and loneliness of Shah Jahan, who had been one of the most powerful rulers of India. Ben Kingsley wants to bring alive the human aspects of jealousy, intrigue, etc, in Shah Jahan’s household that went during and after the making of Taj Mahal.

While Ben Kingsley, who is 67 year of age, will play the great Mughal emperor, it will be Aishwarya Rai, in the character of his queen Mumtaz Mahal. It was Mumtaz, who had inspired the renowned ruler to build the monument in her memory.

Aishwarya Rai and Ben Kingsley had earlier worked with each other in the ‘Last Legion’ and it was during that period that she was offered the role to play Mumtaz Mahal. Aishwarya, being a big fan of Kingsley, had immediately given her nod for the flick.

Ben Kingsley’s fourth wife, Daniela Lavender, who is a Brazilian, will play the first wife of Shah Jahan. The first wife of Shah Jahan was a Persian Princess known by the name of Kandhari Begum. The story of the film has important role of Shah Jahan’s first wife, who was very active in the intrigue game of the King’s household.

Sources close to Ben Kingsley, whose company SBK Productions is producing the flick, say that the Taj Mahal will be recreated for the purpose of shooting of the flick and the major segment will be completed there. However, the initial and the final portions of the flick will be shot in Agra, after getting requisite permission from the authorities.

It may be recalled that Shah Jahan’s rule in the Indian history is known as the golden period of Mughal India, when an all-round development in art, literature and architecture had taken place. The monumental Taj Mahal still stands as a witness to that prosperous and glorious era.

However, Shah Jahan’s last days as emperor were not very happy as his own son Aurangzeb had imprisoned him. It is said that the sad emperor Shah Jahan would constantly stare at Taj Mahal for hours from the window of his prison.

The cinematic genius Ben Kingsley and the world’s most beautiful lady Aishwarya Rai are coming together to re-ignite history’s most passionate & profound romance as they portray Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal in the former’s next production ‘Taj.’

27 years after captivating the cinematic world with the projection of the revered Mahatma Gandhi in the Oscar-winning film ‘Gandhi’,Ben Kingsley has chosen to play the mighty Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the $ 25-30 million production under his company SBK pictures. Abhishek was rumored to play the emperor’s part but quenching all those rumors, Ben has publicly announced his ultimate decision. “With my passion for India and the Taj Mahal now becoming one of the seven wonders of the world, I am compelled to ask ‘why’ and ‘how’ this scream of grief frozen in marble came into being,” he quipped.

It’s not the first time that someone has tried to capture this romantic saga, revolving around the immortal stones of the Taj Mahal, on celluloid. But, never before, has it been projected on such a monumental, colossal scale. The camera will start rolling in late 2010 and hopefully, the veteran Kingsley & the ethereal beauty Aishwarya will do full justice to this period-romance. Now, the question that hangs is that will they succeed in resurrecting the long-buried romance from its marble-embellished grave???

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan doesn’t let her guard down. And her smiles are measured these days. Is it because, as speculated, she doesn’t want laugh lines on her pretty face? Ash just flashes her pearlies in reply.

In Delhi to launch the new watch for luxury brand Longines, Ash is visibly tired of the one question everyone seems to be asking her — whether the recent weight gain indicates good news? “Oh, I knew this question will pop-up. We are married and in due time will be parents too. When it happens, you will definitely know. Right now it’s not the time.”

The actress minces no words in denying she’s at the helm of affairs at the revived ABCL banner. When asked if it’s true that ABCL ought to be rechristened as Aishwarya Bachchan Corporation Limited, she shoots back, “I don’t know whose figment of imagination that is. ABCL is what ABCL was.”

We remind her it won’t be a bad idea to have the name of the ghar ki bahu in the banner for good luck and she says, “Every bahu (daughter-in-law) in India is considered ghar ki Lakshmi. Does that mean everyone changes his or her company name to incorporate the bahu’s name? No na?”

She has two big movies—Raavan and Guzarish in the pipeline, but what Aishwarya seems most upbeat about is the opportunity to play the lead in Ben Kingsley’s Mumtaaz. “It’s an honour to work with someone like Ben Kingsley. The film is however still in the scripting stage.” She is also all praises for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzarish, “Sanjay’s characters are so strong that it is immaterial how much screen time you get. This is my third film with Sanjay and it has the strongest characterisation.”

On the subject of rumours about her considering doing filmmaker Javed Khan’s venture with ex-beau Salman Khan, Ash chose to stay mum while her spokesperson Archana Sadanand had this to say. “No way. No such movie is happening. Publicity seekers just cook up stories. Ash has no time to pay attention to such things.”

Actress Aishwarya Rai might be pitted against Ben Kingsley’s wife Daniela Lavender in his dream project “Taj”, a film about Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his quest to build the Taj Mahal.

“Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz in the movie, if she approves the script and loves it. Daniela would be playing Kandahari Begum, Shah Jahan’s first wife in the film,” Kingsley told reporters in Panaji Monday.

The actor, who is here as guest of honour for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said he will play the emperor in the film.

But he feels that making “Taj” won’t be easy.

“I suppose it’s very foolish or very brave attempt to do a movie on Shah Jahan. If I can show him in a human way, if I can portray him as a man amongst us — I might be able to add to many explanations on how Taj was built,” Kingsley said.

He added that the script had arrived less than a week ago and that he would be scouting in India for funds for his $25 to $27 million project.

“During my few days in India, we have to raise funds. It’s not fully financed,” said Kingsley who drew accolades from the world over for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s highly acclaimed film “Gandhi”.

Oscar-winning British actor Ben Kingsley, who portrayed Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi, this week announced that he will be returning to India to film Taj,a movie about India’s Mogul emperor who, for the love of his wife, ordered the construction of the famous landmark, the Taj Mahal.

Kingsley will play Shah Jahan while India’s Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will take on the role as Mumtaz Mahal in the US$30 million production, Kingsley’s production company SBK Pictures announced.

Aishwarya Rai has yet to consent to Ben Kingsley’s long awaited period drama Taj. She has been offered to play the role of Mumtaz Mahal in the film.

“Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz in the movie, if she approves the script and loves it,” said Sir Ben Kingsley who is in Goa as guest of honor for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

“Daniela (his wife) would be playing Kandahari Begum, Shah Jahan’s first wife in the film,” he added.

Aishwarya confirmed from Delhi that she has received the final draft.

“After ‘The Last Legion’, Sir Ben and I were keen to work together in another project. He has now come with the final draft and he has just sent it over to me. Once we agree on everything, we will take the project forward. He will start scouting for the locations soon,” she said.

Kingsley will play emperor Shah Jahan who built Taj Mahal for his beloved Mumtaz. The final script of the film was wrapped a week ago, says Kingsley.

The Oscar winner actor and filmmaker is aware of both the magnitude and sensitivity of a project such as a film on Shah Jahan.

“I suppose it’s very foolish or very brave attempt to do a movie on Shah Jahan. If I can show him in a human way, if I can portray him as a man amongst us – I might be able to add to many explanations on how Taj was built.”

The $25 to $27 million budget film will be shot in Agra and other important sites in India. Kingsley will utilize his trip to India for raising fund for the film which is only partially financed.

“During my few days in India, we have to raise funds. It’s not fully financed.”

Kingsley will be attending Bachchan production’s Paa premiere in Mumbai on December 3 as a special guest of Amitabh Bachchan.

Actress Aishwarya Rai might be pitted against Ben Kingsley’s wife Daniela Lavender in his dream project “Taj”, a film about Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his quest to build the Taj Mahal.

“Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz in the movie, if she approves the script and loves it. Daniela would be playing Kandahari Begum, Shah Jahan’s first wife in the film,” Kingsley told reporters in Panaji Monday.

The actor, who is here as guest of honour for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said he will play the emperor in the film.

But he feels that making “Taj” won’t be easy.

“I suppose it’s very foolish or very brave attempt to do a movie on Shah Jahan. If I can show him in a human way, if I can portray him as a man amongst us — I might be able to add to many explanations on how Taj was built,” Kingsley said.

He added that the script had arrived less than a week ago and that he would be scouting in India for funds for his $25 to $27 million project.

“During my few days in India, we have to raise funds. It’s not fully financed,” said Kingsley who drew accolades from the world over for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s highly acclaimed film “Gandhi”.

Ben Kingsley, famous for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi, is reaching deeper into the country’s history with a new role as the Mogul emperor who ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Kingsley will star as Shah Jahan in “Taj,” 27 years after his award-winning performance in “Gandhi.” Indian superstar and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz Mahal in the $25-30 million production, the British actor’s production company, SBK Pictures, said in a statement Wednesday.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1654 for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while she was giving birth to their 14th child. Soon after its completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son and imprisoned at the nearby Agra Fort.

“With my passion for India and the Taj Mahal now becoming one of the Seven Wonders of the World, I am compelled to ask ‘why’ and ‘how’ this scream of grief frozen in marble came into being,” Kingsley said in the statement.