By Dale Bhagwagar

Writer-director-producer Akbar Khan's colossal historical 'Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story' is currently undergoing a 15-day outdoor schedule (from September 20 to October 5, 2003) in the picturesque landscapes of Leh (Ladakh) and Kashmir. During this schedule, a song on the lead pair and some dramatic scenes will be shot in and around various locations like Paygon Lake, Dropping Garden, Randhipura Thicks, Stok Village, Mathu Village, Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden, Dal Lake and other locations namely Gulmarg and Sonmarg in Kashmir.

While Zulfikar and Sonya Jehan are being introduced as the eternal lovers of all time Prince Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal, the film stars Manisha Koirala, Kabir Bedi, Pooja Batra, Arbaaz Khan, Arbaaz Ali and Kim Sharma.

Other credits include cinematography by R.M.Rao, music by Naushad, costumes by Anna Singh, dialogues by Mohafiz Hyder, Rajeev Mirza and Gulrez Syed, choreography by Saroj Khan and Jay Borade, art direction by Ratnakar Y.Phadke, action direction by Sham Kaushal and audiography by Sona Choudhary. Shahala Sheikh is the executive producer, while Chandravadan B. More is the associate art director. The film is co-written by South African freedom fighter Fatima Meer.

Being made under the banner of Mashreq Communications Limited, the film is being readied for an early release.