Indian filmmaker to direct film on Buddha

Dalai Lama, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and new age guru Deepak Chopra may come together to make a film on Buddha.

Dalai Lama, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and new age guru Deepak Chopra may come together soon to make a film on Buddha.

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India's largest Buddhist group, the Mahabodhi Society of India, is commissioning the film and is in talks with Kapur to direct the $50 million venture that could hit the screens globally by end of 2005.

According to the society's newly elected president, Bhupendra Kumar Modi, the project has the blessings of the Dalai Lama, who has also apparently given his comments on the script.

Bhudha inspires Shekhar Kapur

"It was a personal dream of mine to make a film on the Buddha," said Modi, a well-known industrialist who is shelling out $10 million for the yet-to-be-named project.

Modi said he and Kapur met Dalai Lama early this month in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The two also met important aides of the Dalai Lama. "The Dalai Lama gave his suggestions for the script. He also wrote to his famous disciples in Hollywood to help our project," informed Modi.

The Dalai Lama has famous disciples like Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn, Sharon Stone and Melissa Mathison.

Modi said filming might begin early next year and the project would be ready by end of 2005. "The film's release can coincide with the 2,550th birthday celebrations of the Buddha," informed Modi.

"We have just started talking about it and it's too early to comment on the film," Kapur was quoted as saying.

Modi said it was Kapur who had approached him first to make a film on the Buddha.

Spiritual self-help guru Deepak Chopra is assisting with the script. Modi is trying to rope in Sony for its worldwide distribution. The film will be extensively shot in India.