Bhojpuri superstar to make Bollywood debut as Sher Shah Suri

Varanasi, Aug 21 (UNI) Nicknamed the Big B of Bhojpuri cinema, singer cum actor Manoj Tiwari 'Mridul' is set to make a memorable debut in Hindi cinema by enacting the title role in a flick based on the life of famous ruler 'Sher Shah Suri.' Both Tiwari and the great warrior who defeated Mughal Emperor Humayun in the Battle of Chausa, belong to the same region of Bihar.

While the ruler of Afghan origin accredited with connecting the country with the Grand Trunk Road and introducing rupee coin in the country belonged to Sasaram, the sweet-toned Tiwari is from the neighbouring Bhabhua district.

''I am fortunate of beginning my innings in Bollywood by essaying the role of a ruler on whom no film has ever been made despite unparallel contribution to Indian history,'' Tiwari, an alumnus of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) told UNI here last evening.

Refusing to divulge much about the movie whose shooting begins on February 1, Tiwari said ''the only thing I can tell you is that this film is going to mark a watereshed in Indian cinema by vividly narrating the tale of a ruler who has largely remained an unsung hero in Indian political history in comparison to the Mughals whose second emperor Humayun was pulverised by the same son of the Bihari soil.'' About the star cast of the ambitious venture, Tiwari informed the film which is likely to be completed early 2009, will also star ex-Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, besides big brother Jackie Shroff playing Humayun.

''The shooting of the film begins on February one which happens to be my birthday. By god's grace this son of Bihar will do his best to hook to the country the persona of the famous son of the same soil, whose contribution to India is peerless,'' said Tiwari who shot to fame first as a ''Devi Bhajan'' singer, but later became a hit with movie-goers of the Bhojpuri heartland in the role of star of new age Bhojpuri cinema.

About other Bollywood ventures, Tiwari also the former cricket captain of BHU and ex-vice president Laloo Prasad Yadav-led Bihar Cricket Association claimed ''I will also be replacing Sunny Deol in a film which will also star Bobby Deol, but it is surely not going to be the sequel to Apne. But it would be premature to talk about it now.'' UNI