A worldwide search launched last month to select the lead role in Ashutosh Gowariker's period
film 'Buddha' has received an overwhelming response with as many as 3,700 registrations and over 6,000 photos and videos on its website 'buddha-movie.com'.
'Buddha' which is currently in pre-production stage, is about the journey of prince Siddharth. The story focuses on his life and his journey to achieve enlightenment.
The movie will bring Buddha, one of the most iconic characters in history to the big screen and Gowariker is presently busy with the auditions.
"The search for the actor to play the iconic role continues. I am going through the hundreds of auditions that have come in and I must say, we are getting closer to our Buddha," director Ashutosh Gowariker said.
He said this was the first time that he had done pre-visualisation for a film.
"Producer Bhupendra Kumar Modi and co-producer Dileep Singh Rathore are leaving no stone unturned to give me technicians of my choice, that will help create 500 BC accurately on screen," Gowariker said.
"The first important decision that Modi took was to make Buddha in English. And that got me immediately interested because I have always felt that when it comes to religion, you
must cater to an international audience, especially so in the case of Buddha," he added.
The film has a global crew which includes screenwriter from USA David S Ward, Executive Producer Michel Shane from USA, co-producer/line producer Dileep Singh Rathore, Karl Walter Lindenlaub from USA as Director of Photography, ace Bollywood art director Nitin Desai as production designer, April Ferry from USA as Costume Designer, Glenn Boswell as second unit director and stunt co-ordinator, David Ruussel
from Australia as story board artist.
"Buddha is a truly global film and we needed a team that would have a global sensibility and transcend language barriers," Modi said.