Aishwarya Rai and Brad Pitt are likely to be paired off in Shekhar Kapoor's 'Buddha'. Richard Gere a devout follower of the Dalai Lama is also slated to star in the £70 million film, to be funded by Bhupendra Kumar Modi. The film will tell the story of the prince who gave up everything to attain enlightment. The Dalai Lama has, it is said, given his blessings for the project. Kapur's project comes 13 years after Mira Nair faced protests from Buddhists who opposed Buddha being shown as an ordinary human being.

Shekhar Kapur told a reputed publication that his film would explore the idea of "searching for the spirit, for the self". He also elaborated that he was interested in an interpretation, which he admitted could provoke a controversy.