Shabana Chadha joins 'Afterlife'

Azmi, Hawkins cast in 'Wonderful' pic

By ALI JAAFAR

Hawkins

LONDON -- British-Asian helmer Gurinder Chadha has tapped iconic Indian thesp Shabana Azmi as well as Sally Hawkins, Zoe Wanamaker, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Jimi Mistry and Sanjeev Bhaskar for the cast of "It's a Wonderful Afterlife."

Chadha started lensing March 28 on the $10 million black comedy about an Indian mother who takes her obsession with marriage to extreme lengths.

Chadha's Bend It Films is co-producing with Studio 18 and the Indian Film Co., which is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales.