Kangana Ranaut at an event in Mumbai.
Bollywood actress Kangan Ranaut, who is riding high on the success of
Tanu Weds Manu Returns, is perfect to play warrior queen Rani Lakshmibai in his upcoming biopic, said director Ketan Mehta.
"She (Kangana) is on board. She has liked the script. It's a role of a lifetime. She is at the top now. She is doing good work. I think she was best for the film," Mr Mehta told PTI.
To get into the skin of her character, Kangana will undergo training in horse-riding and sword-fighting.
Mr Mehta is returning to the pre-independence era following the biopic on Mangal Pandey. The film titled
Mangal Pandey - The Rising released in 2005 and featured Aamir Khan in the titular role.
Meanwhile, there are several speculations regarding the casting of the film, with actor Hugh Grant's name cropping up in some reports. Mr Mehta, however, is mum on the cast. "The process of casting is on and we will be making an announcement soon," he said.
The director, known for films like
Mirch Masala, Maya Memsaab, Rang Rasiya, said that the biopic will go on floors next year.
Talking about the project, Mr Mehta said, "Rani Lakshmibai is one of the most fascinating women I have come across in terms of what she has done in her life. I enjoy making biopics. It is a great platform to tell the stories of those people who have done great work. It has been a challenge to write this biopic but these are good challenges. I am very excited to start working on it."