Iconic Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowarikar will be directing Buddha, an English Language epic written by Oscar winner David Ward (The Sting). Ward, who also scored world-wide acclaim with his screenplay for Sleepless in Seattle will start shooting for the film this summer. The film is set to release in 2010, and shooting for the film will come to conclusion by the end of this year, according to the film producer Bhuvan Lal. Michael Shane and Anthony Romano will also be producing the mega-budget film.

Although the cast and crew on the film haven’t yet been finalized, the  film will be shot in foothills of the Himalayas.

About the star cast, film director Gowarikar said, “There is a strong possibility that a foreign actor would play the role of Buddha. Nationality should not be a concern for this character, which is truly an international face. There will be many Indian actors also.”

The director is most famously known for his films Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). His film Lagaan became the third Hindi language film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002. (after Mother India in 1957 and Salaam Bombay! in 1989.)

Gowarikar who is currently wrapping up his Hindi film “What’s Your Raashee?” was finalized for the film after initial talks with Indian director Shekhar Kapur. The film is to be based on one of the most compelling books on Buddhism, Old Path White Clouds written by Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

The film budget has been quoted as 2 billion rupees according to sources.