MUMBAI: Film maker Priyadarshan is all set to start work on his next film.

As was reported first on Businessofcinema.com, the director will soon be headed for Karaikuddi, a small town on the Kerala-Karnataka border to shoot his political drama. Come 16 August, and the unit will start its first schedule. Penciled in for this shoot are some powerful performers.

Priyadarshan describes, "As this film requires enigmatic characters and personalities that command a huge screen presence, I have cast my actors according to the dictates of the script. Films like these are realistic and hard hitting so the characters too have to be very believable. Ajay Devgan and Akshaye Khanna are powerhouses of talent." Adding to the talent will be the sheer genius of Paresh Rawal. Rawal, who has often been given comic characters can take charge of a character, which has villainous traits. Priyadarshan adds, "After a long time Paresh will give the audiences a taste of what he can do on the big stage. He is good in comedy, but far superior when he does hard hitting films. He can give his talent a free reign." One assumes that with the casting of Bipasha Basu, there will be a hint of glamour.

However, this film will have little scope for the actress to apply the grease paint and make her look glamorous. Talking about his heroine, Priyadarshan explaines, "There is a certain vulnerability to Bipasha’s face and at the same time a certain hardness tinged with determination. That is what is going to be explored in this film." Spread over two schedules, the film should be ready for a release early next year.

The director summed it up as, "I like to work on one film at a time. I can give it my undivided concentration and the film looks complete if it is finished in six months. Besides, that’s the only way I work… finish my films as early as possible."