/> The plot for Gujarati NRI industrialist Uru Patel's Hanuman thickens by the week.

After having finalized Keanu Reeves and Shilpa Shetty as Rama and Sita, the enterprising LA-based producer has signed model-turned-actor Aseem Merchant, last seen in the derailed thriller The Train as Emran Hashmi's blackmailer, to play the very critical role of Rama's devoted brother Laxman.

Why Aseem? One may well ask, since he has been playing largely anti-heroic roles in films as far-ranging as Bullet and The Train.

According to very reliable sources Aseem got this astonishing break because Uru and his late brother Raju Patel (the latter conceived the Hanuman project but died of cancer) were close friends of Aseem.

Says the source, "Aseem didn't hide anything of his past record as an actor from the Patels. They signed him because they liked him and felt he physically suited the role of Keanu Reeves' brother."

When contacted Aseem is surprised. "I am really not allowed to talk about this. But yes, whatever us happening in my career now will finally put me on the map."

Besides the Hanuman project for which Aseem leaves for the US next month, the actor has also been signed to play the villain opposite Salman Khan in Boney Kapoor's remake of the Telugu blockbuster Pokhiri.

"Besides trying to find my place as an actor I'm also to be a good father to my 8-year old daughter," says Aseem who is divorced, single and not quite ready to mingle. A true-blue Rama-bhakt at least for now.

Is he aware that Riteish Deshmukh plays Laxman to Ajay Devgan's Rama in Raj Santoshi's Ramayan?

"I guess Laxman is a very popular guy," Aseem chuckles.