Bollywood star Irrfan Khan is set to join Cate Blanchett in the controversial Indian Summer, a period drama that charts the alleged romance between prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the wife of Lord Mountbatten.

The actor will join international biggies like Hugh Grant and Blanchett who will be playing Lord and Lady Mountbatten in the director Joe Wright's period drama set in the final days of the British Raj.

Production has reportedly only been allowed on the understanding that the romantic scenes are either toned down or removed entirely. Indian Summer is based on the book of the same name.