SRK played India’s greatest emperor, Ashoka, but flopped.
Now Amitabh Bachchan will have a crack at playing the great Mauryan ruler.
Tabu will play Ashoka’s wife Tishyarakshitra in the movie, The Legend of Kunal, being directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who directed the serial Chanakya. The movie will be produced by Bachchan’s company AB Corp Ltd.
The movie shows Ashoka in his final period after the victory at Kalinga as he embraced Buddhism. "Only he possesses the gravity, sobriety and personality," says Dwivedi, "Ashoka in his twilight had to be played by Bachchan sahib. I wouldn’t make Ashoka without him."
The film also stars Arjun Rampal as Ashoka’s son Kunal. Amrita Rao will play his wife Kanchanmala.
"I cast them because of their suitability rather than saleability," Dwivedi said. "In fact, Amrita was recommended by Jaya Bachchan. Tabu and Amrita have many dramatic confrontation scenes together. I needed an actress who could hold her own against someone as powerful as Tabu. Amrita is delicate but strong," he added.
"Tabu had not a moment’s hesitation in saying yes to the role of emperor Ashoka’s powerful wife Tishyarakshitra, so powerful she swayed the entire Mauryan empire with her politics and aura. We needed an actress with the strength of conviction," Dwivedi said.
On making the movie, he said: "It’s a big responsibility, not only to history but also to Bachchan saab, who has never in his long and distinguished career played a historical character."
