By Subhash K Jha Kalpana Lajmi has gotten over the rather poor show of her Sushmita Sen starrer Chingari at the box-office.

Now Kalpana is simultaneously planning two films. One of them is a full-on comedy with an ensemble cast.

But the one which Kalpana is most excited about is a period film. "My first film to go back in time, and therefore rather expensive," says the director. "It's the love story of a courtesan during the reign of King Asoka. The central male character is a sanyasi."

Sounds unusual. "But when have I done the usual?" Kalpana reasons. "I want to address the dichotomy of how a courtesan is revered and worshipped in those times, while the Queen who's married to the Emperor is almost a doormat."

Kalpana has cast Isha Koppiker as the courtesan while Rituparna Sengupta will play the queen.

The male actors are yet to be decided.