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India-based Split Image Pictures has signed Jennifer Lynch ("Surveillance") to direct horror thriller "Nagin," toplined by Bollywood star Mallika Sherawat and Irfan Khan ("The Namesake").

Govind Menon, president of Split Image, will produce and finance with Vikram Singh co-producing. Production is set to start in India next month.

Story's based on the Far Eastern myth of the snake woman who is able to take on human form.

Pic's backed by private equity and is part of Menon's multi-picture financing deal calling for collaborations between Bollywood stars and Hollywood filmmakers such as Lynch. Budgets range from $5 million to $15 million.

Sherawat was recently cast in U.S. film productions "The Aquarian Gospel" and "Unveiled," and Khan will next be seen in Mira Nair's upcoming "Kosher Vegetarian," "New York, I Love You" and Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire."