Brad Pitt plans to shoot in Varanasi by 2008

Varanasi, Feb 21 (UNI) Hollywood star Brad Pitt chewing a 'Banarasi Paan,' relishing a frothing 'Lassi' or even a bout of chess on the majestic Ganga ghats here may no longer be a one-day spectacle.

The 43-year-old actor has serious plans of shooting a full-length Hollywood movie here by 2008, sources, who hosted the 'Troy' star in Varanasi during November last said.

''Brad did not come here along with his companion Angelina Jolie, only to relish the unrivalled mystical charm of Varanasi but it was a well-planned trip by the Hollywood actor to study the various locations of the picture-perfect city for a future movie,'' a leading theatre personality of the city who hosted the Hollywood star in the city told UNI here today.

''Brad not only enjoyed boat ride on the Ganga river, besides relishing the Lassi and Paan, but also videographed many locations on the imposing riverfront, including Darbhanga ghat, Lal Ghat, Rana Mahal Ghat, Ahilyabai Ghat, Daswashamedh Ghat and the Rajendra Prasad Ghat,'' sources added.

''Brad told me that by 2008, he may produce a full length movie to be shot prominently in Varanasi. The prospective venture would have Brad, both behind the camera and in front of the roving eye.'' ''We are now eagerly awaiting his next trip to the city,'' sources said.

The star who made his film debut with 'Cutting Class' in 1989 and has under his belt movies like 'Seven,' 'Mr and Mrs Smith' and 'True Romance', took time out to visit Varanasi while 'Tomb Raider' star Angelina Jolie was busy shooting in Mumbai and Pune for 'Mighty Heart' -- a movie based on Wall Street Journal scribe Daniel Pearl.

Before this only one mainstream Hollywood movie has been shot in the city which has been a heaven for documentary film makers, besides being presently a hit with Bollywood film-makers.

Reknowned filmmaker Ismail Merchant had shot some sequences of the Merchant-Ivory creation 'The Guru' in the bylanes of Varanasi in late 1960s and in 2004 trouped to the city again with pop diva Tina Turner for studying the locations of the ancient city for his next venture 'The Goddess' where the 'What a Feeling' singer was slated to play the role of Goddess Kali.

But, with a shock to Varanasi's readiness to welcome the celebrity crew for shooting of the film, Ismail Merchant passed away in May 2005.

UNI