by Subhash K Jha

While Deepa Mehta gets ready to launch her big period epic Exclusion with Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham and Terence Stamp, she has decided to do a small moderate- budgeted quickie which deals with the life of a Punjabi bride in Toronto.

"And before you ask, it isn't a light film to counter the heaviness of Water. It's again going to be a very dark film like Water. The idea came to me while I've been touring the US with Water," Deepa reveals from Houston where on 29 April the film got the prestigious Remi award at the Houston Film festival.

"I thought of a film on the life of a bride from Punjab and how it changes in the course of just seven days. It's titled Heaven On Earth. And it's about the dynamics of a family change. I start shooting on 1 July and complete the film in seven weeks after which I go on to my big one Exclusion."

The leading lady for Heaven on Earth is on the verge of being finalized. "All I can tell you is it isn't a Bollywood actress," laughs Deepa.

"It will be in Punjabi with a smattering of English. I had to do something quickly while I'm waiting for the big one to come together. Water has acquired a life of its own. The kind of ovation I've seen it getting is unbelievable.Nowhere in the world is Water seen as a typical Bollywood film, though it's a Hindi film."

Deepa has now completed the last lap of her US tour.