AKSHAY KUMAR TO STAR IN FIRST INDIAN FILM TO BE SHOT IN CHINA

Bollywood has joined hands with Hollywood major Warner Brothers for Made in China, the first Indian movie to be shot in China.

Shooting for the film, which will feature action star Akshay Kumar and model Deepika Padukone, will begin in January 2008, Warner Bros said in a release Thursday.

Akshay will play a lowly Mumbai cook who is mistaken for a martial arts hero in the movie to be directed by Nikhil Advani of "Kal Ho Na Ho" fame.

The script has been written by Shridhar Raghavan and the music is to be composed by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca.

Shooting on location in China will mark a first for an Indian production, said Warner Bros, which is making its initial foray into Bollywood.

The movie will be produced by Ramesh Sippy Productions and Advani's Orion Pictures, while Warner Bros will distribute it worldwide.

Ramesh Sippy, the director of "Sholay", said: "At the turn of the century there was a lot of promise in the air about globalisation in Indian cinema and now with this venture, RSP and Orion are joining hands with Warner Bros, bringing that dream closer to reality.

"Certainly what we hope to achieve at the minimum is a greater knowledge and understanding of the workings and systems of Hollywood and the Indian film industry. And I am sure we both stand to gain a lot from each other."

Blaise Fernandes, country manager for Warner Bros Entertainment India, said, "We'll count on our partners' expertise and will do everything in our power to make a well-crafted, popular and successful Indian film."