Varanasi as photogenic as Madhuri Dixit, admits Shyam Benegal

Varanasi, July 30 (UNI) Raring to make a film based in Varanasi, award winning film-maker Shyam Benegal today compared the ancient city with Bollywood beauty Madhuri Dixit.

''Varanasi is as photogenic as Madhuri or the other way around..

in whatever manner you would like to put it,'' said Shyam Benegal, in an informal chat with newspersons here today.

An integral pillar of Indian parellel cinema and now a Rajya Sabha member, Mr Benegal conceded he was eager to base a film in Varanasi, provided he gets the rightful person to finance his project.

''As of now I have nothing Varanasi specific on mind, but will certainly base a future venture on the mystic city that has enslaved one and all,'' said Benegal, whose next film will be shot in Rajasthan starting from October.

Interestingly, Madhuri alongwith Ajay Devgan, is likely to be in Varanasi in November, for the making of 'Suryamukhi', a film based on the life of famous painter Raja Ravi Verma.

The shooting of Benegal's next film will begin at the world famous Pushkar fair, said Benegal, refusing to divulge anything on the storyline or cast of the film.

''All I can say is that the star cast will be from mainstream cinema,'' Atul Tiwari, one of the two script-writers for the project confided.

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