Italy's Bellucci to play Sonia Gandhi in Indian movie

INDIA: Italian actress Monica Bellucci has agreed to play the role of India's most powerful woman Sonia Gandhi in a new film about her life, the director told AFP.

Jagmohan Mundhra pursued Bellucci for six months before persuading her at last month's Cannes Film Festival to play the Italian-born politician and latest torch-bearer of the Gandhi dynasty.

"Monica is the right person to play the role. She is from Italy and has the right kind of looks to play the role of Sonia Gandhi," said Mundhra, who is based in the United States.

"I was after her agent for more than six months to get an appointment and convince her that she should be a part of our project. I met Monica finally at Cannes International Film Festival last week where she gave me a positive answer."

Bellucci, 41, has appeared in more than 40 films, including The Passion of the Christ, The Brothers Grimm and as a rape victim in Irreversible.

The actors are yet to be named to play Rajiv and Indira Gandhi for the movie based on a biography of Sonia Gandhi written by Indian journalist Rashid Kidwai.

Sonia Gandhi knows about the film but is not involved, the director said. The English-language film, to be shot in London, Italy and New Delhi, will span 40 years from the time she went to Cambridge to study English at a language school and met Rajiv. It is due to be completed by December.

"I feel Sonia Gandhi has a very fascinating life story. She was an Italian citizen married to an Indian," said Mundhra, whose most recent projects included "Provoked" starring Bollywood belle Aishwarya Rai.

"She came and settled down in India and made it her home even though her mother-in-law and husband were killed in terrorist attacks.

"She rules one billion Indian people and she is not even an Indian (by birth). I feel this is a great story to be told and therefore I want to make a film on her life."

Mumbai, Friday, AFP