The anglo-Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth," "The Four Feathers") is set to direct "Buddha", with the blessing of Dalai Lama himself. Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt may join Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai ("Bride & Prejudice"). Richard Gere is also slated to star in the proposed film.

Knowing that any film about a major religious leader runs the risk of being controversial, the director said: "There are so many different sects and different interpretations of one man's story, there will be people who don't agree with the interpretations," according to the World Entertainment News Network.

Brad Pitt, who has made in the past "Seven Years in Tibet", might be familiar with Kapur's vision of a film that would explore the idea of "searching for the spirit, for the self", as in his film a Prince will give up everything to attain enlightenment.

Brad Pitt has been thinking of many projects. After "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", he's been shooting for "Babel" in Morocco, and preparing for his new films.