By Manissha Despaande, Bollywood Trade News Network

Filmmaker Akbar Khan has decided to make his next historical epic, CHANGEZ KHAN, in English. "I have deliberately chosen to make it an English language film because I want to prove that English language films aren't merely the domain of Hollywood producers. Indian producers are equally capable of making quality English language productions with the same technical finesse and special effects," he reveals.

Khan has already started research on the film and is planning to assemble an international cast for the film. "I am hoping to rope in some prominent Hollywood names in it," he reveals, adding that the film will be shot in Mongolia, Uzbekistan and several other places in the world. The interesting part of the film though is his decision to present the ruthless Mongol king in an altogether different light. Says Khan, "We only know him as a villain, whose quest for power made him an autocratic dictator. Few of us know that he was also a great visionary who built palaces, edifices and bridges."

CHANGEZ KHAN will commence shooting sometime in December 2006, according to Khan. Meanwhile, the small detour that Khan had initially planned with another film, TAXI DRIVER, has now been postponed for a later date.