Posted: Mon., Feb. 4, 2008, 7:00pm PT

Radford to build 'Taj'

Simpson, Cairo will produce film

Michael Radford is set to direct "Taj," the love story between 17th century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, the queen for whom he built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum.

Krishna Shah wrote the script.

Michael A. Simpson and Judy Cairo are producing with Ken Atchity and Ch-Li Wong. Pic will shoot in India later this year and is being aimed for a September start.

Radford, best known for directing "Merchant of Venice" and "Il Postino," was born in New Delhi; "Taj" would be the first film he's shot in his home country. Radford recently visited Mumbai to scout locations.

Pic will cost $25 million, and Atchity said most of the funds are in place, with WMA Independent piecing together the remaining territories.


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