NRI British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha to Direct "Dallas"

London, April 08, 2006
Santosh Kumai

NRI, British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha to direct the movie adaptation of 1980s soap opera DALLAS - a week after ROBERT LUKETIC walked out on the project over creative issues. Kenyan-born, NRI, Chadha is known for her work on BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, WHAT'S COOKING? and BRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Jennifer Lopez, Luke Wilson, John Travolta and Shirley MacLaine will star.The filming is scheduled to start on Dallas in October, with the remainder of the cast to be finalised in the coming weeks, and the film is set for release in late 2007.

   
Shirley MacLaine and John Travolta

"I am obviously delighted that the deal has been confirmed after so much enthusiastic speculation. Directing a film with stars like John Travolta and J-Lo is fantastic, and shows that the market of Brit-Asian films ... Has huge credibility and respect in Hollywood," Chadha said

Gurinder Chadha is also working on another cinema adaptation of a long-running TV show, "I Dream of Jeannie", a 1960s sitcom about a mischievous genie. Chadha is currently promoting the film 'Mistress of Spices', which she has co-written and produced with her husband Paul Mayeda Berges.