MUMBAI: Donning the director`s hat for a third time, Antonio Banderas is all set to direct a love story titled Akil that will star his wife Melanie Griffith.

The 52-year-old actor producer will make Akil under the banner of his production house Green Moonbased in Malaga, Spainit is understood.

Akil takes its title from the name of an African boy who reaches Spain in a small boat. Fleeing from the police, he takes shelter in the house of an American woman. The makers are searching for a boy who would play the character.

"This is a love story between two completely different people -- in age, attitude, religion, wealth -- who end up being essential to each other," Banderas has been quoted to have said.

"My country, Spain, is in tremendous financial crisis. It`s very difficult to obtain funds to make a movie. I have conceived `Akil` so as not to depend on third-party funding," he added.

The shooting of the film depend on Banderas‘ other commitments in 2013. He has earlier directed Crazy in Alabama and Summer Rain.