After the success of Bhoot in 2003, Ram Gopal Varma plans to remake the film with Hollywood actors. Titled Within, it will be released by late 2006.
"Instead of a Mumbai apartment, the film will be set in New York, in an apartment in Manhattan," Varma confirmed. He added that there would be no Indian actors, but refused to divulge cast details.
Percept Picture Company will produce the film at a budget of US $6 million and it will go on the floors early next year.
Earlier, Varma tied up with K Sera Sera to produce films but the duo split recently. Now, he has tied up with the Percept group to make two films -- while one is Within, the other is Ek.
When asked whether the agreement to produce films with K Sera Sera was over, Varma said, "I have an independent company and we work project by project. Right now, we have tied up with Percept but, in future, if some interesting projects come up, we will do films with K Sera Sera too."
Asked about why he had roped in actors from Hollywood, he replied, "I grew up watching English films, which is why I'm making this one. But it's not as if I'm going to give up Hindi cinema."
He added that there was a lot to learn from Hollywood films as they had an aesthetic sense that was lacking in our film industry. "Right now, corporatisation of our industry is taking place, which is a good sign. But still, we need to improve on many other fronts," said Varma.
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His immediate next venture will be Shiv, shooting for which will begin in November and be completed by December. Shiv is a remake of the big flop, James. Ek will be a multi-starrer and will cost $20 million. The film is about nuclear terrorism and deals with a subject based on international lines. It stars Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, with the rest of the cast yet to be finalised.
