May 23. London. It was a historic tea party. The ethereal Gayatri Devi, the stunning Aishwarya Rai and the intense filmmaker J.P. Dutta all together for a very special tete-a-tete. The occasion? They were together to shake hands on JP’s proposed biopic on the life of Gayatri Devi. And the ravishing Rajmata’s verdict? She absolutely loved Aishwarya Rai and has given her whole-hearted support to JP’s proposed film.

Aishwarya, in the thick of a hectic start-to-finish schedule of Jagmohan Mundra’s Provoked, is walking on air. “I can’t believe I’ll be playing one of the most beautiful women in the world! To get to enact Gayatri Devi, and that too in a film by a director of J.P. Dutta’s film? Wait, lemme pinch myself,” she bursts out laughing.

Then she spills the details of the historic meeting. “You know, it was Gayatri Devi’s birthday when we met. My mom and she share the same birthday. It was a very special day for me. J.P Saab and I spoke with Gayatri Devi for a while. She gave her nod almost instantaneously. I’m elated. But I’m also nervous. To play someone so legendary is a big responsibility. It’s so strange. I’m right now playing a real-life character(the battered Sikh wife Kiranjit Ahluwalia in Provoked). Then I’ll go into another real-life character. But a completely different one. Gayatri Devi has lived her life king-size?Or should I say, queen-sized? I hope I can do justice to her story?. It’s such a vast story. Someone suggested we make a whole series of films like Star Wars to do full justice to her. But I think JP Saab will manage it quite well.”

The jubilant J.P. Dutta adds, “My wife Bindiya, Aishwarya and I went to wish Gayatri Devi on her birthday. She was very excited that everything is falling into place. I think she’s very happy that Ash will be playing her. In fact, when the Rajmata and I had spoken earlier in Jaipur about a film on her life, I had mentioned Ash. She thoroughly approved of my choice.”

Right now J.P. Dutta is busy scripting both his proposed projects Umrao Jaan and the biopic on Gayatri Devi. “I can either do them one after another, or I can do them together. Gayatri Devi is willing to provide all the help possible. She’ll introduce me to her friends, take me to the places relevant to her life. I need to get my script in place. Writing about her life isn’t easy. I read her autobiography. And I can see I’ve a staggering task ahead. To recreate Gayatri Devi’s life is to re-live almost the entire 20th century and a part of this century. The budget and the scope are immense. The Rajmata asked me how I’ll manage to put her life together in one film. I told her, ‘M’am, there’s a hand above guiding me. That hand has brought me so far. It’ll take me through your life’. I’ve to get down to the script and see how much of it to get in. I’m getting an attack of panic. Umrao Jaan, I can manage. But Gaytari Devi gives me the jitters.”

It could possibly be the biggest, most lavish and insightful biopic ever made in Indian cinema. J.P. Dutta, known for his penchant for epic cinema, has taken on the onus of presenting the life and times of one of the most beautiful women to have ever walked on this earth. Research work is on full throttle. JP first met Gaytari Devi in Jaipur. The lady graciously agreed to let the movie moghul take charge of her celluloid avataar. Now to get the project on its feet JP has left for London to research his film about Gayatri Devi. His father, veteran writer-director .P. Dutta, is also in London working on the script.

But will the biopic please the supporters and followers of Gayatri Devi? JP laughs. “I’m aware making biopics in our country is a thankless task. No one is fully pleased. And there’s always a controversy accompanying a true-life story. But in this case I’m ready to take the risk. To film a life so complete and exemplary would be an honour for any filmmaker. I’m ready for the challenge.”