By Saibal Chatterjee, IANS

After the enthusiasm generated by "Provoked" at the Cannes film festival, director Jagmohan Mundhra is keen to sign on Amitabh Bachchan for his next film in the role of a Scotland Yard officer of Pakistani origin, whose life changes forever after the July 7 London blasts.

The film, "Shoot at Sight", is due to roll in August in London. Critically acclaimed actors Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri are already on board. While Naseer will play an Imam (priest), Om Puri will the essay the role of a 'halal' meat shop owner.

If Bachchan agrees to head the cast of "Shoot at Sight", it will be the first time in his long, illustrious career that he will feature in an international production.

"Amitabh Bachchan would be perfect for the role of a 55-year-old cop who has risen from the rank of constable to commander and is in line for the post of assistant commissioner of police when July 7 happens," says Mundhra.

"Shoot at Sight", which is Mundhra's 30th feature film, will have strong political undercurrents and is influenced by real-life characters. "The central character is modelled on real-life Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Tariq Gaffoor," says the London-based director.

"In the immediate aftermath of the July 7 blasts, I noticed that Gaffoor became Scotland Yard's most visible face on television. That was indicative of an official attempt to dispel fears of anti-Muslim bias. I called up Gaffoor and spoke to him. That is where the idea of a film germinated," says Mundhra.

Mundhra hopes to wrap up "Shoot at Sight" before beginning pre-production work on his most ambitious film to date - a Sonia Gandhi biopic. "I am not really interested in the politics of Sonia's rise to prominence," he clarifies.

"I will approach her life simply as the amazing story of a woman's journey from anonymity in a small Italian town to the pinnacle of political glory in a nation of one billion people. Her life is a classic case of fact being stranger than fiction," says Mundhra.

As a prelude to the groundwork for the Sonia film, Mundhra plans to shift his filmmaking operations to Mumbai for good by the end of 2006. "My office in Mumbai should be ready by September," he informs.