http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=30&contentid=200806242008062402171431488b625f
>From a nautch girl, she grew into a commander of her own troops and the owner of her personal principality, Sardhana. The story of Begum Sumro was just waiting to be told. Tigmanshu Dhulia who has so far made films on deception and crime, is all set to bell the cat now. And who better equipped to play the wanton seductress from the 18th century than Mallika Sherawat? No stranger to costume dramas if you count her miniscule appearance with Jackie Chan in The Myth, Mallika will play her first full-blown historical character, a part that several of our movie queens would give anything to play. Confirming this, director Tigmanshu Dhulia says, "Yes Mallika is indeed playing Begum Sumroo in my film Begum. Zee is producing the film. We've locked in on her dates for early next year." Tigmanshu is in advanced talks with the Welsh actor John Rhys-Davis to play the lead opposite Mallika, her husband Walter Reinhardt. "John would be perfect. This film requires a huge amount of preparation. It will be a lavish costume drama with elaborate songs and dances," he says. A R Rahman is expected to do the music. The film produced by Zee Films will be based on Hindi litterateur Amritlal Nagar's novel Saat Ghunghat Wala Mukhda. Interestingly, this would be Tigmanshu's third bio-pic in a row. "I'm doing films on the army deserter Pan Singh Tomar and milk revolutionary Verghese Kurien. Of course Begum is the toughest bio-pic to make. Though most of my films so far have recreated an era or an aura, going back to the sound fury and passion of the Mughal era is another matter. Also this would be my first woman-centric drama. And that too about a woman who inscribed her in name in Mughal history in flaming colours." Mallika will be required to brush up her fencing abilities, and also her dancing skills, to look convincing in the mujras. ------------------------------ *On BeguM Sumroo* Begum Sombre (also known as Zebunissa, Farzana and Joanna after baptism) started her career as a nautch girl in 18th century *India*<http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/ads.aspx?adid=22>. Later on, she played a very crucial role in the politics and power struggle in the 18th and 19th centuries. She was the head of a professionally trained mercenary army, inherited from her European mercenary husband, Walter Reinhardt. This mercenary army consisted of Europeans and Indians. She is also regarded as the only Catholic Ruler in *India*<http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/ads.aspx?adid=22>, as she ruled the Principality of Sardhana in 18th and 19th century *India*<http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/ads.aspx?adid=22>. Walter Reinhard's friends lovingly called him 'Sombre' because of his long brooding face and thus the title 'Sumroo' was derived and became locally popular. A good administrator, the Begum held the fief after Reinhard's death and converted to Christianity for strategic and personal reasons in Agra. Her new name was Joanna but she was still popular as Begum Sumroo in the area. Begum Sumroo was also famous in the European social circle for throwing lavish social gatherings at her residence, in the early 19th century, before her death, in 1836. -- regards, Vithur HELP EVER; HURT NEVER; LOVE ALL; SERVE ALL
