Aishwarya to play Mumtaz Mahal

[Neo]

Aishwarya to play Mumtaz Mahal

By Shahrezad Samiuddin
Wednesday, 25 Nov, 2009

Indian actors Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arrive for a screening at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.

Sir Ben Kingsley, the actor best known for winning an Oscar for his lead role in the 1982 film ‘Gandhi,’ is pairing up with Bollywood’s highest paid actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for a film titled Taj, reported India.com.

The period drama, about the building of the Taj Mahal, will attempt to capture the great love that lead to the construction of what Kingsley calls ‘this scream of grief, frozen in marble…’

Aishwarya will play Mumtaz Mahal in the film which is being produced by Kingsley’s own production house SBK Pictures. In the past Aishwarya has played Jodha, the wife of Mughal emperor Akbar in Bollywood period flick Jodha Akbar.

Earlier Aishwarya’s husband Abhishek was expected to play the role of Mughul emperor Shah Jehan, but had to back out due to prior commitments. This compelled Kingsley to step into the main role. Kingsley last worked with Aishwarya in the Last Legion which sank without a trace at the box office.

He has travelled to India to attend the IFFI (International Film Festival of India) and is expected to meet with Indian financiers to help fund the film.

In the meantime according to DNA, Kinglsey has started the process of seeking permission to film in and around Taj and at other historical monuments in India.

[Lady Macbeth]

Yes I read this one.....and I couldnt help cringing at the thought!

How much are she going to pimp herself?

Cmon woman give others (who are prettier, more eloquent speakers and younger than you) a chance....your biological clock is ticking (not to sound sexist)

And it would have been a laughing stock of all ages to come if Abishek hadnt stepped back ''due to prior commitments''.

[Neo]

I would love to Rani in this role.

[Lady Macbeth]

Originally Posted by Neo

I would love to Rani in this role.

Awwww.....poor Kajol would be distraught over this Neo.
Why would you ditch her now of all times? Do you know something we dont?

[Lady Macbeth]

Deepika Paudikonee - Perfect Mumtaz Mahal!

[Neo]

Rani speaks better Urdu than Kajol, I think for such an epic role as Mumtaz we must not forget about minor details. I was annoyed to death listening to Hindi accent in Umrao Jaan (Ashwariya) and the Nawaab (Abhishek).

Remember Razia Sultan with Hema? She took lessons in Urdu to perform the role and she spoke Urdu with genuine accent! Thats the way it should be!

[Lady Macbeth]

Originally Posted by Neo

Rani speaks better Urdu than Kajol, I think for such an epic role as Mumtaz we must not forget about minor details. I was annoyed to death listening to Hindi accent in Umrao Jaan (Ashwariya) and the Nawaab (Abhishek).

Remember Razia Sultan with Hema? She took lessons in Urdu to perform the role and she spoke Urdu with genuine accent! Thats the way it should be!

And you have sources to prove your claim?.....lol (mucking about, sorry)

If you are basing your choice for Mumtaz on urdu then Shabana Azmi would be an ideal choice......

But since the girl playing Mumtaz should be quite younger than the lead male.....I would still pick Deepika ...

[Neo]

Deepika is second best for the role indeed.

Shabana, India's Maryl Streep, could still perform the role, so could Dimple.
The age might have caught up with them, they're both still very pretty and great actresses!

[Lady Macbeth]

Originally Posted by Neo

Deepika is second best for the role indeed.

Shabana, India's Maryl Streep, could still perform the role, so could Dimple.
The age might have caught up with them, they're both still very pretty and great actresses!

Fair enough they are amazing actresses and who am I to reject anyone on age....afterall I am not a snotnosed lass myself but the character demands a very young person as apparently she was only 18 when she got married.....and died when she was 36....so in other words Aishwariya is going to play the role of the dying Mumtaz?

Or she is going to pull a ''Bollywood'' on us and be the 36 year old who plays an 18 year old?

[Neo]

She was 14 when she married Shahjahan and died at the young age of 38 IIRC.

Let me google up her biodata.