MUMBAI: Bengali filmmaker Gautam Ghose will soon sign Richard Gere for his next bilingual (Hindi-English) film, Lala.

The Indo-Italian project, set in the backdrop of Narmada Bachao Andolan, is the story of an Indian village boy who tries hard to survive in Mumbai until his chance encounter with an European author.

Richard Gere will play the author‘s role. The shooting of the film will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and France or Italy.

Since the film deals with the Narmada valley issue, it is being said that activist Medha Patkar might play a cameo in the film.

Ghose‘s last Hindi film was Yatra while his next Bengali film, Moner Manush, is set for release soon.