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???

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”.

Aishwarya Rai says she is fully convinced that actor-husband Abhishek Bachchan will make a good father in real life because he is so “real and rooted”.

“Everybody has been asking me if Abhishek will be a good pa (father) in connection with the release of our forthcoming production ‘Paa’. I think it’s silly for me to be even making the statement. It’s given – I married the man. So obviously I have the conviction in the husband he is or the father he will be,” Aishwarya, 36, told IANS in an interview here.

Asked about Abhishek’s qualities that would make him a good father, Aishwarya laughed and said: “He is very real, very rooted and very human – which I absolutely relate to. His values are evident for everybody to see. We have known each other for so many years.

“I’ve seen him with his niece and nephew since the time they were babies. He is so great with kids and I’ve seen that for the longest time with (his sister Shweta’s children) Navya (Naveli) and Agastya. I have no doubts on him whatsoever.”

Aishwarya, who will be seen with Abhishek in “Ravana”, was in the capital Monday to launch the Longines PrimaLuna, a new watch range inspired by the moon and galaxy.

Sporting a sleek piece herself that matched with an elaborate yet elegant black and cream off-shoulder gown, Aishwarya was at peace talking about her personal life.

Asked whether she would want a daughter or a son, she said: “Come on…Aren’t you like moving at a really fast pace…! Whatever god has in store for us in life (will come)… Life itself is a blessing, let alone to have opportunity to be able to bring a life into this world.

“It’s really not in our hands …it’s in god’s hands. I hope I am just blessed with that experience, I am really looking forward to it and we will certainly cherish it,” she added.

Her mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan is a member of the Samajwadi Party, but Aishwarya is doubtful if she will ever head in that direction.

“Life has been so full – haven’t even thought about it (entering politics). My life is evidently extremely full in terms of the amount of responsibilities and experiences I am currently having.

“And I believe, anything you take, you have to be able to commit to and give a lot of yourself to. And I think at this point, life is full and that’s what I am giving (my best) to,” she said.

On the work front, the former beauty queen is busy with big ticket projects such as Mani Ratnam’s “Ravana”, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Guzaarish”, Rajnikant starrer “Endhiran” and Vipul Shah’s “Action Replay”.

The actress is likely to feature as Mumtaz Mahal with acclaimed Hollywood actor Ben Kingsley in “Taj”, which is based on Taj Mahal.

“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.

For now, Aishwarya is looking forward to AB Corp’s “Paa”, which features her father-in-law, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and Abhishek. The film releases Friday.

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”.